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UPDATED: Bel Air Apartment Fire Ruled Arson

November 6th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal were requested to respond for a reported apartment fire at the Bel Air Apartments located at 15821 McMullen Highway in Cumberland on November 5th. The investigation revealed the fire was intentionally set on the third floor of the occupied building by Jennifer J. Shoap (45).

Shoap was a resident at the apartment building and admitted she started the fire in her apartment. Fire departments were alerted to the fire in the evening of November 5th, and extinguished the fire within a short time.

The fire caused approximately $75,000 in damages and displaced three occupants.

Shoap was charged with Arson, First and Second Degree; Malicious Burning, First Degree; Malicious Destruction of Property over $1,000; and two counts of Reckless Endangerment. She was transported to the Allegany County Detention Center where she is being held without bond.

Allegany County 911 dispatched 17 fire companies to the Bel Air Apartments Saturday evening after a fire broke out on a porch. The fire eventually spread to an apartment and quickly became a working fire after the call came in at 8:40 PM. US Route 220 was shutdown in the area until around midnight, and the State Fire Marshal is investigating.

There are no reports of injuries, and no record of any transport from the scene.

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