Officers from the Charleston Police Department have arrested a suspect in connection with a wildfire that occurred on Laurel Island on January 28, 2026. The fire began at approximately 11 p.m. and burned about 20 acres of undeveloped land. No buildings were damaged during the incident.
The Charleston Fire Department, assisted by neighboring departments, spent several hours containing and extinguishing the blaze.
A joint investigation was conducted by detectives from the Charleston Police Department and investigators from the Charleston Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office. Their findings indicated that Malcolm Jamal Brown, age 27 and a resident of Charleston, started a small fire intentionally, which then spread beyond his control. He has been charged with willfully burning the lands of another without consent.
Brown was taken into custody on February 16, 2026, and transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center.
The City of Charleston is known for its historical significance through sites such as the Old Slave Mart Museum, which documents aspects of the domestic slave trade (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/160/Old-Slave-Mart-Museum). The city also includes areas around Charleston Harbor and plays a role within the broader Charleston–North Charleston–Summerville region (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2010/History). Efforts to preserve and improve residents’ quality of life are ongoing priorities for local government (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/403/Mission-Values), often involving cooperation with regional entities (https://www.charleston-sc.gov/403/Mission-Values).
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