California, MD- At 11:36 p.m. on December 20, 2018 a 9-1-1 dispatch was sent out for a commercial structure fire at the San Souci Shopping Center on MacArthur Blvd.

The first due company was the Bay District Fire Department arriving with 50 personnel.

The State Fire Marshal was called in to investigate. The preliminary cause is listed as accidental with are of origin being an electrical malfunction OUTSIDE of the vacant storefront.

Multiple adjoining stores suffered smoke damage as well. The Fire Marshal lists the loss at $25,000.00 for the structure.

David M. Higgins II is an award-winning journalist passionate about uncovering the truth and telling compelling stories. Born in Baltimore and raised in Southern Maryland, he has lived in several East...