Arson Charges Filed In Havre de Grace House Fire

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — Officials say a woman has been charged with arson and other offenses in connection with the fire that broke out at a Havre de Grace home July 5, 2020.

Investigators said Alyssa O'Brien, 23, set fire to a mattress at a home in the 100 block of Anderson Avenue. Firefighters were called to the home for a reported house fire at 2:40 a.m. on July 5, 2020.

Within minutes, the Susquehanna Hose Company traced the fire to a mattress in the basement and extinguished it, according to the fire marshal. Everyone inside the house got out safely, and there were no injuries reported.

The Havre de Grace Police Department was called for a domestic dispute between O'Brien and the homeowner's adult son, according to authorities. Fire investigators determined the blaze was intentionally set by O'Brien and caused $500 in damage.

O'Brien was charged with first- and second-degree arson, second-degree malicious burning and four counts of reckless endangerment, court records show. A warrant for her arrest was issued Dec. 23, 2020.

Havre de Grace police arrested O'Brien Tuesday afternoon after authorities said they received a tip about where to find her. She is being held without bail, court records show.

O'Brien is slated to have a bail review hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Harford County District Court. A preliminary hearing in the case is slated for March 1.

Court records show she has addresses in Middle River and Edgewood.