Credit: Charleston County Sheriff's Office
Officers with the Charleston Police Department arrested a suspect following an investigation into a wildfire on Laurel Island that occurred on January 28, 2026, at approximately 11 p.m. The fire burned approximately 20 acres of undeveloped land. No structures were damaged.
The Charleston Fire Department, along with several surrounding fire departments, worked for several hours to contain and extinguish the fire.
Following a joint investigation by detectives with the Charleston Police Department and investigators with the Charleston Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office, it was determined that Malcolm Jamal Brown, 27, of Charleston, intentionally set a small fire that quickly spread beyond his control. He is charged with willfully burning the lands of another without consent.
Officers arrested Brown on February 16, 2026, and transported him to the Al Cannon Detention Center.