February 19th, 2025 by WCBC Radio

The Office of the State Fire Marshal charged a local man with arson after a fire at the Cumberland YMCA earlier this month. 

On February 7, 2025, just before 3:00 p.m., the Cumberland Fire Department responded to a fire at the YMCA at 205 Baltimore Avenue. When they arrived, they were told other tenants had quickly extinguished a fire in a third-floor apartment. At the Cumberland Fire Department's request, the Office of the State Fire Marshal was requested to investigate the cause. 

With the assistance of the Cumberland Police Department, Donald Lee Martin, Jr., 63, was taken to UPMC Western Maryland for a medical evaluation. After the investigation, Deputy State Fire Marshals charged Martin, determining he was responsible for setting the fires within his apartment. 

Martin has been charged with attempted first and second-degree arson and reckless endangerment. He is being held at the Allegany County Detention Center without bond. 

The Cumberland YMCA provides services for unhoused individuals and transitional services for families. At the time of the fire, the shelter had over 60 tenants and employees inside. Another building was connected, which housed another twenty-two females. The fire caused around $1,000 in damages, and nobody was injured.