BOWIE, Md. (WUSA9) – It turns out the story about a meteorite strike that may have started a massive brush fire in Bowie was incorrect, officials said.
On Sunday afternoon, the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department tweeted that they were investigating a possible meteorite strike behind Scarlett Oak Terrace, just off Maryland Route 450.
However, Fire Chief Jonathan D. Howard, Sr. released a statement Monday saying that the post should have never listed a meteorite as the cause:
Yesterday afternoon at approximately 6:00 pm, units from the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department found a large brush fire, in the wooded area of White Marsh Park. The fire, approximately 2 acres total, was located in a remote wooded area about ¾ of a mile off Annapolis Road. When firefighters made it to the site, there was a large pit, which was 12-15 feet wide by 5-6 feet deep involved, which spread to the adjacent trees and brush. It took approximately 15 Firefighters, 4 hours to extinguish.
A tweet was sent out using the official department twitter account that insinuated that there was a relationship between a meteorite and the cause of fire. This was simply not so and the post should have never been made listing a cause. Cause and determination is made solely by the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.
As the Chief of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department, I apologize for the media attention this has created and have put measures in place to make sure this doesn’t occur again.
According to WUSA9’s Scott Broom, the fire was started by a group of kids and when it got out of control they made up a story about the meteorite.
Scientists and experts say the meteorite scenario is virtually impossible.
“Freshly fallen meteorites are barely warm to the touch,” said Darryl Pitt, the curator of the Macovich Collection, the largest collection of aesthetic iron meteorites in the world.
Pitt explained that meteorites flame out after entering the upper atmosphere, then cool as they fall from the sky.
Firefighters found a hole in the ground with rocks in the bottom where they fought the fire.
Experts say a meteorite strike could not create such a crater without a thunderous sonic boom with the power to knock down a forest of trees. Even then, a fire would not result.
The cause of the fire and the bizarre circumstance are under investigation.
Investigators on scene say the crater appeared to be dug by hand. Arson is suspected.
