A battalion chief with the Matthews Fire & EMS has been charged with setting fire to a vacant commercial building earlier this month.
According to the official Matthews Police Department media release, Peter William Blaich, 54, was charged with Burning of Certain Buildings (North Carolina General Statute § 14-58.1) in connection with a structure fire at an unoccupied building located at 9550 East Independence Boulevard on January 12, 2026. However, the citation to § 14-58.1 appears to be inaccurate, as that section is simply a definition section. § 14‑62 is titled “Burning of Certain Buildings.”
Law enforcement alleges evidence gathered during the investigation established probable cause for the charge, and a warrant was issued by the Mecklenburg County Magistrate’s Office. The building involved in the incident was a vacant former Boston Market restaurant on East Independence Boulevard in Matthews…