ST. MARY’S COUNTY, MD – A significant fire, allegedly set by a Leonardtown man, ravaged a hotel room yesterday evening, displacing 46 guests and inflicting an estimated $750,000 in damages. The incident occurred shortly after 8:00 PM at the Super Eight Motel located at 22801 Three Notch Road in California.
Authorities were alerted to the disturbance by a motel employee who reported that the occupants of room 310 were arguing loudly, had broken windows, and had barricaded the door. Responding deputies observed 64-year-old Anthony Cleaver Mason inside the room attempting to start a fire, prompting an immediate evacuation of the building while they awaited fire department response.
Firefighters from multiple units including Bay District, Hollywood, NAS Patuxent River, Leonardtown, Ridge, Valley Lee, and Solomons were called to the scene. They encountered flames and several people injured from jumping from the third floor in an attempt to escape. A woman and her child were rescued; the woman later experienced a medical emergency and was taken to a hospital, while the child was evaluated and released to family members.
Following the incident, Mason was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree arson, reckless endangerment, and first-degree malicious burning. He is now being held without bond at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is further investigating the arson.