Evicted Joppa Woman Faces Arson Charges: Fire Marshal

JOPPA-, MD — A Joppa woman is facing arson and related charges after a fire broke out at the home where she had been evicted the day before, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Susan Lee Harclerode, 60, was charged with first and second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning and trespassing on private property.

Authorities allege Harclerode set her foreclosed home in the 200 block of Kearney Drive in Joppa ablaze on April 20, while she and her dogs were inside.

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Neighbors rescued them, and firefighters from Joppa-Magnolia and surrounding companies put out the blaze in 20 minutes, the fire marshal said.

Harclerode was taken to Harford Memorial Hospital for an evaluation, and animal control officers took her dogs to the Humane Society of Harford County, according to authorities.

Deputy state fire marshals determined the fire had been intentionally set.

"Investigators later discovered Harclerode had a small trash can fire inside her home just days prior to this fire that was extinguished by firefighters," the fire marshal said in a statement, and she had been evicted the day before the fire. "After consulting with Harford County States Attorney’s Office, deputy state fire marshals lodged charges against Harclerode and an arrest warrant was issued."

When she was trying to get her dogs at the humane society, deputy state fire marshals took Harclerode into custody.

Court records show Harclerode was being held on $50,000 bail.

Photo Credit: Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.