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Seance Sparks Blaze, Barricade, Arson Arrest In Maryland: Fire Marshal

A Maryland woman’s attempt to summon spirits may have backfired—literally—when she allegedly set her apartment on fire, then locked herself in a rental office, officials said.

Zak Failla
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April Niesha Hough, 45, of Hagerstown, is facing arson charges after claiming she was performing a seance before the fire broke out at The Ridge Apartments on Garden Lane, according to investigators.

Fire crews responded around 4 p.m. on Friday, March 14, after smoke started pouring from the three-story building. Tenants managed to escape after a fire alarm was activated.

That’s when things got even weirder.

Investigators quickly learned that Hough had barricaded herself inside the rental office, where she allegedly confessed to setting the fire.

Her reason? She was performing a seance, she told staff.

Investigators later determined that the fire had been intentionally set and, as an added twist, Hough had removed multiple fire extinguishers from the building beforehand, officials said.

With help from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Hough was arrested at the scene and taken to the Washington County Detention Center.

She has been charged with:

  • First-degree arson;
  • First-degree malicious burning;
  • Malicious destruction of property over $1,500;
  • Reckless endangerment.

Hough is currently being held without bond, officials said.

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