Firefighters forced to watch home burn. Barricaded man stayed in house as the fire spread.
It was hurry up and wait for Prince George’s County, MD firefighters Wednesday night. For more than two hours crews watched a single-family home burn and there was little they could do. Firefighters were ordered to stay back as the Prince George’s County Police Department dealt with a man who had barricaded himself in the home in the 2200 block of Iverson Street in Hillcrest Heights.
The incident started around 11:30 p.m. when police were called to the home for a domestic situation. According to a PGFD press release, a woman had left the home, but a man remained inside. Fire and police officials say, while still in the home, the man set it on fire.
The fire department was alerted to the situation around 11:50 p.m. Firefighters kept a safe distance while police worked to peacefully get the man to surrender. It wasn’t until 2:00 a.m. on Thursday when negotiators were able to convince the man to come out. At that point firefighters were allowed to put out the fire.
Fire investigators are now charging 45-year-old Ruxton Sinclair with first-degree arson, second-degree arson, malicious burning and reckless endangerment. Sinclair was taken to the hospital because of injuries sustained during his apprehension and for smoke inhalation.
Damage to the home is estimated at $300,000.
