A Frostburg man is accused of setting his home on fire in a bid to collect insurance payments.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office says 40-year-old Bruce Opel was arrested Friday.
The fire occurred last April at a home owned by Opel that was under renovation at the time. An investigation revealed that construction debris in the living room had been set on fire.
Opel was indicted on second-degree arson and insurance fraud charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of more than 20 years in jail.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
New EVs From Toyota, Subaru Breathe Life into Struggling Market 
What Home Age Actually Tells Us About Claims — And What It Doesn’t 
Software Firm CCC Intelligent Solutions Exploring Sale: Reuters 
A Paint That Changes Colors When Hit. The Uses Are Striking. 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.