Deadly Vehicle Fire on I-95 in Harford County Was Arson: Fire Marshal

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A woman died on Interstate 95 Thursday night in what authorities said appeared to have been an arson. She has not yet been identified, officials said.

At 9:35 p.m., first responders were called to a vehicle fire reported on I-95 south near mile marker 76.5, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

A 2007 BMW SUV was ablaze, the fire marshal said.

When firefighters from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company and Abingdon Fire Company put out the fire, officials said they saw the remains of a woman in the driver's seat.

"...a deceased female was operating the vehicle at the time of the fire," the fire marshal reported.

The blaze was not caused by a crash or mechanical failure with the vehicle, according to the report. Instead, deputy fire marshals and accelerant detection K-9 Kachina determined that the fire was intentionally set inside the passenger compartment.

Both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland State Police are conducting an investigation into the death of the woman, who will be identified with assistance from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The medical examiner is conducting an autopsy that will also provide the cause of death.

Anyone who was in the area or may have seen the SUV before the fire is asked to call the Northeast Regional Office of the Fire Marshal at 410-836-4844 or Maryland State Police JFK Highway Barrack at 410-537-1150.

Related: One Dead in Vehicle Fire on I-95 in Harford County

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