A woman has been arrested and charged with arson following a residential fire on Linden Avenue in Pocomoke City that left one person seriously injured, according to the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office. The fire occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at approximately 1:40 p.m. in the 400 block of Linden Avenue. Worcester County Emergency Services received a 911 call reporting that a residence was on fire and that the caller was trapped on the second floor, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office.
A Pocomoke City police officer, an EMS clinician, and a volunteer firefighter arrived before fire apparatus and forced entry into the home without safety equipment, rescuing the occupant from the second floor. Firefighters from the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company arrived shortly afterward and brought the fire under control. Firefighters assigned to Engine 102 extinguished the fire, while Tower 1 crews searched the residence and confirmed there were no additional occupants inside. Chief E. Denston commanded the structure fire, according to a Facebook post by the fire company.
The victim sustained serious injuries and was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore for treatment, according to both the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company.
Following the incident, the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office initiated an investigation and determined that the fire was intentionally set inside the residence. Investigators identified Margaret Jane Benchama as a person of interest but were initially unable to locate her. According to the Fire Marshal’s Office, Benchama was located and detained at approximately 6:30 p.m. that evening. During an interview, investigators said she admitted to starting the fire. She was arrested and charged with first-degree and second-degree arson and transported to the Worcester County Jail, where she is being held without bond.
According to court documents cited in an article by WBOC, Benchama was the victim’s roommate, and the two had recently been arguing. The victim reportedly told Benchama she would be evicted on February 1, 2026. WBOC reported that charging documents state that Benchama told police she “snapped” and set fire to cardboard boxes and discarded Christmas materials while the victim was upstairs sleeping and on oxygen. Investigators say she then left the home without calling 911 or reporting the fire.
Disclosure: The author is a member of the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent the organization.
