Teenager Accused Of Setting Manufacturing Plant On Fire
CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- An 18-year-old man has been charged with arson after a vacant Cumberland manufacturing plant was destroyed.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said Thursday that Martin E. Witt Jr. of Cumberland was arrested in connection with the Wednesday afternoon fire that engulfed the 45,000-square-foot Artmor Plastics building.
It took firefighters nearly seven hours to put out the flames.
Authorities say Witt confessed to igniting multiple fires with a lighter while trespassing inside the closed manufacturing plant.
Investigators say Witt was accompanied by four 17-year-old boys. Authorities are interviewing the boys to determine whether they were involved with lighting the fires.
Witt has been charged with second-degree arson, in addition to burning and burglary charges. It is unclear whether he has an attorney to reach for comment on the charges.
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