As flames engulfed one car and then leapt to the next in the upscale Russett Green community of Laurel, Dale Perkins-Banks awoke to a strange sound just after four o’clock in the morning on Sunday.
YOUR HELP TONIGHT AFTER A FIRETHAT HAS LEFT SIX PEOPLEHOMELESS, WHICH HAS NOW BEENRULED AN ARSON.
WMAR 2 NEWSJEFF HAGER HAS MORE ON THATSTORY.(HAGER S━UP) 19:46“The firestarted here on Sunday, alittle after four othe morning and neighbors saythere is surveillance videofrom a private home, whichsuggests this was noaccident” (TRACK) AS FLAMESENGULFED ONE CAR AND THENLEAPT TO THE NEXT IN THEUPSCALE RUSSETT GREENCOMMUNITY OF LAUREL, DALEPERKIN━BANKS AWOKE TO ASTRANGE SOUND.
(SOT━DalePerkin━ Banks/VictimsNeighbor 10:44“We weresleeping and we heard somepopping sound going on andafter awhile I’Who is shooting fireworks atthis time in the morning?(TRACK) BY THE TIMEFIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, THEGARAGE HAD CAUGHT FIRE ANDFLAMES MOVED INTO THE ATTIC,SENDING THE SIX PEOPLE INSIDETHE HOME ON MOSS BANK DRIVESCRAMBLING TO GET OUT.
FEWDOUBTED THAT THE FIRE WAS ANACCIDENT.
(SOT━SteveOtubanjo/Victims6:57“It had to be like somebad hombres honestly and Ijust shocked that thishappened” (TRACK) IT DIDNTAKE LONG FOR INVESTIGATORS TOFIGURE OUT THERE WAS NOTHINGRANDOM OR ACCIDENTAL ABOUT IT.(SOT) :50“Fire investigatorshave determined the fire wasan arson fire that began withone of the cars in thedriveway” (TRACK) IT IS APOINT SUPPORTED BY CAMERAFOOTAGE STILL BEING COLLECTEDIN THE AREA.
PERKIN━BANKSSAYS ONE OF HIS NEIGHBORSDESCRIBED A HOODED MANAPPROACHING ONE OF THEVEHICLES MOMENTS BEFORE THEFIRE.
(SOT) 14:49“The personthat had gone to the car onthe left looked like they litsomething underneath the tire,came back over into the yardand didnmade sure it did ignite.
Theywalked back over to the carand saw where it had and thenthey drove off” (HAGER S━UP)20:09“If you have anyinformation on this fire,youArundel Fire Tips Line.
Thatnumber is 41━22━TIPS.Reporting in Laurel, JeffHager, WMAR 2 News”ONE WOMAN IS STEPP
Good morning, North State. Here's what you need to know to start your day on June 17.