CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (July 21, 2011) – Investigators with the Office of the State Fire Marshal have concluded their investigation involving a home fire that originally occurred at approximately 10:35 p.m. on February 15, 2011 at 9635 Poorhouse Road in Port Tobacco.
The late evening blaze brought nearly 50 firefighters from multiple volunteer fire companies to the scene of the one alarm fire. First arriving units observed heavy fire throughout the second floor of the two story dwelling with extension to the first floor. The fire was contained within 20 minutes and notification was made to the Office of the State Fire Marshal for an origin and cause investigation.
Deputy State Fire Marshals conducted an on-scene investigation and determined the fire had been intentionally set. The extensive five-month-long investigation revealed that the homeowner, Michael David Toder, 35, was responsible for setting the fire that caused an estimated $250,000 damage to the home. On July 15, 2011, a Charles County Grand Jury indicted Toder on charges of Arson 1st Degree and three counts of Fraud. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and then served today at Toder’s place of employment without incident.
Toder was transported to the Charles County Detention Center and is currently awaiting review before a Charles County Circuit Court Judge. If convicted of the charges Toder faces penalties of up to 45 years imprisonment and/or $65,000 in fines.