27-year-old man charged in 20-acre Laurel Island fire

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A 27-year-old Charleston man named Malcom Jamal Brown has been arrested and charged with willfully burning the lands of another without consent. Authorities say Brown set a small fire on Laurel Island on January 28 that quickly grew into a 20-acre wildfire, though no structures were damaged. The Charleston Fire Department and surrounding departments worked for hours to contain and extinguish the blaze.

Why it matters

Wildfires pose a serious threat to public safety and the environment, especially in dry, wooded areas like Laurel Island. This incident highlights the need for vigilance and accountability around fire safety, as well as the strain that large-scale fires can place on local emergency response resources.

The details

According to police, Brown is accused of setting a small fire on Laurel Island before 11 p.m. on January 28 that rapidly spread beyond his control. Officials were called to the island after 11 p.m. as the flames burned approximately 20 acres of undeveloped land. The Charleston Fire Department and several surrounding fire departments worked for several hours to contain and extinguish the fire, though no structures were damaged.

• On January 28, Brown allegedly set a small fire on Laurel Island before 11 p.m.
• Officials were called to the island after 11 p.m. as the fire had grown to 20 acres.

What’s next

Officers arrested Brown on February 16 and transported him to the Al Cannon Detention Center. The judge will decide on Brown's bail at a hearing next week.