Police Offer Reward To Catch Damascus Arsonist

DAMASCUS, Md. (WUSA) -- Fifth generation farmer Roy Stanley says 600 bales of his straw and hay at three different locations were torched Tuesday morning, and some are still smoldering.

The cost of the fire and cleanup is more than $100,000.

As he surveyed the damage with his seven-year-old granddaughter, Stanley says he's worried about what might happen next.

"I hope I wasn't targeted, but if I wasn't, then someone is just out there randomly setting fires without regard to people's property and safety," he says.

Police have released photos of gas cans found at one scene. They have distinctive writing on them, which they hope someone recognizes. You could get a $1,000 reward for information that leads to a suspect.

"Nothing is ruled out," Captain Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue says.

Neighbors who had mailboxes and landscaping torched are hoping police catch the suspect soon because, "it makes you feel so exposed, so vulnerable," Kathy Nelligan says.

Stanley says all the straw was headed to mushroom farmers in
Pennsylvania. He thinks he has enough on the farm to meet the demand. Covering his losses, well, that's another story.

"I think we are insured. We'll find out," Stanley says.

The CRIMESOLVERS number to call to make an anonymous tip:

1-866-411-TIPS.