Photos and video courtesy of PGFDPIO/Twitter

UPDATE 10/05/18

Personnel from the Fire/EMS Department Office of the Fire Marshal have determined a 3-alarm fire in New Carrollton to be “incendiary”. 

On September 17, 2018, just before 3:30 p.m., Prince George’s County Firefighters responded to a fire at 5334 85th Avenue and arrived to find a working fire in a 3-story garden style apartment building.

The fire was extinguished after a nearly 2-hour firefight.  The fire damaged 4 apartment buildings causing an estimated $2.2 million in damages and displaced about 130 residents.  Fortunately, no civilian or firefighter injuries were reported on the day of the fire.

Fire Investigators identified a suspect and with the assistance of law enforcement arrested her on Thursday, October 4th.  Natasha Ciara Joyner, 32 years-of-age from New Carrollton has been charged with several crimes after setting the fire because she was allegedly upset with an ex-boyfriend.

Joyner has been charged with:

  • 1st Degree Arson,
  • 2nd Degree Arson
  • 1st Degree Malicious Burning
  • Malicious Destruction of Property (> $1000)
  • Reckless Endangerment

Additional charges are pending.


Joyner was transported to the Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro.

LANHAM, Md. – Sept. 17, approximately 3:45 p.m., crews from the PG County Fire Department (PGFD) responded to the 5300 block of 85th Avenue, Lanham for a 3-alarm apartment building complex fire.

According to Mark Brady of the PGFD, the complex contains four rows of interconnected buildings, 3 stories in the front and 4 stories in the back. The upper floors and roof were reported to be significantly damaged by fire. 

Brady also reports that water supply issues caused problems early on for operations in extinguishing the fire. However, as of 5:15 p.m., most of the fire appears to be under control and no injuries have been reported at this time.

Due to extensive damage, up to 100 people may be displaced from their homes.