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Fire guts adult store, injures firefighter
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Related Topics: Fallston, Md.
Fallston, Md. (Map, News) - A fire believed to be intentionally set destroyed a Fallston adult-entertainment store and slightly injured a firefighter early today, authorities said.
Firefighters responded to a call for the fire at Express Videos in the 2100 block of Belair Road at 12:45 a.m., said Derek Chapman, a deputy state fire marshal.
Chapman said the fire is being investigated as arson, but did not provide specifics.
“We have one lead we are looking into now,” he said, without elaborating.
Bryan W. Baker, of the Bel Air Fire Department, suffered minor injuries to his shoulder when fire equipment struck him, Chapman said. Baker was treated and released at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air.
It took 45 firefighters 35 minutes to put out the blaze, Chapman said. Units from the Fallston, Bel Air, Kingsville, Joppa, Jarrettsville and Level fire departments responded.
Fires had been set on the front porch and the outside rear portion of the one-story, wood-frame store, the fire marshal’s office said.
Second-degree arson carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, Chapman said.
The store and its contents were valued at $400,000 Chapman said.
The store’s owner, George Dial, has been notified and is cooperating with investigators, the fire marshal’s office said.
vdickson@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:49 PM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "Fire investigators’ qualifications questioned"
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1:58 PM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008
re: "3 teens charged with arson at bus stop"
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7:18 AM MST on Tue., May. 6, 2008
re: "3 teens charged with arson at bus stop"
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8:01 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007
re: "Essex man charged with arson in Columbia"
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6:47 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007
re: "Fire guts adult store, injures firefighter"
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12:49 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007
re: "Fire guts adult store, injures firefighter"
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12:33 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007
re: "Arson damages adult bookstore in Aberdeen"
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1:10 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 25, 2007
re: "Carroll police: Teens likely culprits in arsons"
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Mike Licht said:
Re: Unqualified fire examiners -- Does anyone else remember the unqualified MPD fingerprint examiner? Dozens of cases were thrown out of court when he was exposed. Time to re-examine the Eastern Market fire, since ATF opinions differed from those of DCFD.
7 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
haha i know one of the kids in the case and I'm glad they are locking him away...good riddance
3 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
wonder if any of people who set the porch on fire know what about the elderly woman who died when the dc arsonist set one on her porch. to mr. hats-off with the "moral smile," get a life, and a conscience.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When I first heard about this fire in the news media, I knew immediately it was one of these boyfriend/girlfriend situations among a certain race of people which usually end in either an arson or acid throwing incident.
100 agree | 120 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Jeez, pal. Try Strunk and White ("The Elements of Style"). No, it's not a television show or a wine cooler but it'll help.
149 agree | 119 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sounds like the work of Self-rightous Christians. Also any one who take thier hats off to an arsonist is not a moralist
142 agree | 143 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I dont normally condone committing crimes...but this case brings a moral smile to my face..."hats-off" Mr. Arsonist
192 agree | 184 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
1.2 million for computers.. Get rid of the resident trooper program and they will have several million for equipment and deputies..
149 agree | 159 disagree
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