Crime

City fire department probes suspicious blaze The Hagerstown Fire Department is investigating a suspicious fire that started Wednesday afternoon in an upstairs apartment at 22 Madison Ave., according to Fire Chief W. Kyd Dieterich. Dieterich said about 15 firefighters responded to the call shortly after noon. “It was smoldering so we didn't have to do a whole lot,” Dieterich said. “We just cleared out some smoke and turned it over to the fire marshal.” Dieterich said he wasn't sure when the results of the investigation would be released.

A spokesman for the Hagerstown Police Department said he hopes now that it's possible to text crime tips to the department that people - especially students - feel more at ease about providing information. The tips, which are anonymous, are sent to police by dialing 847411, said Capt. Mark Holtzman. Each message is started by typing “report,” Holtzman said. The sender then types in a tip and it goes to the Washington County Emergency Communications Center, Holtzman said.