Firefighter Charged With Setting Fires In Carroll County

CARROLL COUNTY, MD — A volunteer Carroll County firefighter has been arrested and charged for setting a string of fires over the last year in the Eldersburg and Liberty Reservoir area of Carroll County, according to the state fire marshal.

Allison Nicole Creutzer, 20, of Eldersburg, has been charged with intentionally setting fire to grass, brush, and woodland, three counts of second-degree malicious burning, and one misdemeanor count of calling in a false report of a fire.

Creutzer, a volunteer firefighter with the Reese Volunteer Fire Company, was arrested Friday evening by the Baltimore Environmental Police, who assisted during the investigation.

In March of last year, the Office of the State Fire Marshal began investigating a string of intentionally set wood fires of leaves, trees, and foliage. Similar fires occurred on May 14 and June 8, 2023. Investigators also connected Creutzer making a 911 call reporting smoke in the area of Route 32 and Liberty Reservoir bridge on May 8, 2023.

Creutzer was a Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department member when the fires occurred. In August 2023. She was suspended due to the ongoing investigation, and did not renew her membership at the end of the year, the fire marshal's office said. Creutzer later joined Reese Volunteer Fire Company, where she was a member at the time of her arrest.

After being taken before a District Court Commissioner, Creutzer was released on a $10,000 unsecured personal bond.

"I want to make clear that this one person's alleged actions in no way reflect upon the thousands of dedicated career and volunteer firefighters who serve our communities—especially our volunteers who give of themselves and their time to serve Maryland. I'm disappointed, but the alleged actions of one should not disparage the work and sacrifices of those who serve," said acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray in a statement.