Two Prince George’s County volunteer firefighters have been arrested and charged with breaking into a Riverdale home and setting fire to it, authorities said. Investigators continue a wide-reaching probe into what they called a firefighter arson ring.
Jerome Engle and James Martinez were indicted on arson and burglary charges, and taken into custody Thursday. The 46-year-old Engle is a firefighter with the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department. Martinez, 24, is a professional firefighter with the Montgomery County Fire Department, but also volunteers with Riverdale. Both men have been suspended since April when the department began the arson investigation.
According to authorities, Engle and Martinez traveled to 5413 Riverdale Road in a fire department utility truck on March 17. They then allegedly broke into the three-story vacant home, set fire to a couch using flares and returned to the firehouse. When the fire was called in, the two joined the volunteer crew in putting out the flames.
Prince George’s County Fire Department Chief Eugene Jones said other volunteer firefighters are currently under investigation and more charges may be brought. Officials said those under investigation have been suspended, but would not say how many there are.
In a separate case, Engle is accused of stealing a brass fire hose nozzle from the Riverdale department on March 29, court documents said.
Fire officials said Engle informed investigators of a fire department arson ring when they began questioning him about the missing equipment in the spring. Engle’s statements to investigators at the time led them to start the investigation during which authorities came to believe that Engle and Martinez had started the March 17 blaze.
In May, Engle gave an extensive interview to WUSA Channel 9 in which he reportedly claimed he watched three other firefighters set fire to the abandoned house on 5413 Riverdale Road. He added that after returning to the firehouse, two of the other volunteers left with gasoline cans. Soon after, the department was dispatched to put out the flames.
Engle faces up to 51 years in prison and Martinez faces up to 54 years.
Engle and Martinez are a “blight on this organization and it’s unfortunate they chose this path,” Jones said.
