Cambridge Man Indicted for 2025 Race St. Arson

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal has announced charges filed in connection with an arson that occurred in Cambridge in Aug. 2025.

Fire marshals and officers with the Cambridge Police Department served an arrest warrant to 28-year-old Patrick Ryan Gifford on Thursday, Mar. 19. The arrest follows his indictment by a grand jury on Monday, Mar. 16. Gifford was indicted on charges of first degree arson, first degree attempted arson, first and second degree malicious burning, and related crimes. He was taken into custody without incident and subsequently committed to the Dorchester County Detention Center. 

If found guilty of all charges, Gifford faces a maximum penalty of 95 years and six months of incarceration and/or $123,000 in fines.

Image Courtesy of the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal

Gifford is accused of setting a fire to a home at 1105 Race Street on Aug. 27, 2025 at 10:18 a.m. following an argument with an occupant of the residence. The one alarm fire brought 36 firefighters from the Rescue Fire Company out to battle the blaze for an hour. The fire displaced 5 occupants and caused approximately $250,000 in damages to the two story, wood frame, single family home.

To learn more about the fire and hear from the impacted family, view WMDT’s previous coverage here.