A judge called the man accused of setting a fire that killed three Baltimore firefighters in 2022 a danger to the community and ordered him held without bail Monday.
James Barnett, 57, is facing more than 180 years in prison for second-degree arson, second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and involuntary manslaughter charges, and had long been on the radar of police.
Lt. Kelsey Sadler, Lt. Paul Butrim, and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo all died in the fire when they became trapped in the vacant rowhome on Jan. 24, 2022.
Investigating James Barnett
Investigators had Barnett on their radar for years and previously released surveillance images as part of this investigation.
They were able to track Barnett through the neighborhood, where he often pushed a shopping cart.
They said another surveillance video, enhanced using what is called MATLAB image processing, showed Barnett using a butane cigarette lighter inside the home, which they believe ignited the blaze…