More Arrests Made in Pennsylvania Arson Spree

BOB REYNOLDS
WNEP
Reprinted with Permission

Add two more people to the list of arson suspects in Schuylkill County.

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Four men who police say when they were firefighters are charged with going on an arson spree in Schuylkill County.

Now another firefighter is charged. Charles Ferguson of the Friedensburg Fire Department Tuesday turned himself into state police.

He was joined by Devon Smith of Auburn, who is not a firefighter. He is also accused of being part of group that state police call serial arsonists.

Smith said he was sorry for his part, but added, "I did not set any fires."

State police said the six are connected with eight set fires in Schuylkill County over nearly four months.

"It's rare that you see a group of people work together for arsons or at least going around burning things to this magnitude. Typically it's loner or solo individuals," said Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Kevin Reichert.

State police said several barns and one home was targeted by the serial arsonists. Investigators said if the spree was not stopped, the arsonists could have other homes on their list.

State police said people in the affected area should now feel safer.

"It makes me at ease as such. I am glad they caught them. It gives some relief to the people and everyone else, the farmers," said Charles Noll of Berks County.

"I've got to give credit to the state police. They were out there looking for them. They were out here plenty of times, so they did a great job going out there are finding these guys," said Bill Kirwan of Reading Stove Company.

Troopers said the six set the fires because they were bored.

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on April 13, 2010 at 3:45pm

GaIAAI.......
Yes, I've seen/read that, what's your point? Still trying to refute studies that consistently show that firefighter arsonists are typically young, white, male....and volunteer. In either this discussion or another related one, I included links, if you haven't seen them, maybe you should.

"Perhaps you should take a good Google Search of Serial Arsonists. You will find they come from both types of Firehouses." They do indeed come from both firehouses, but you have to admit that the volunteer firehouse seems to be much more prolific.

"The South Carolina Chapter of the IAAI’s Fire Fighter Arson Awareness Program provides the following profile of fire fighter arsonists. They are predominantly volunteer fire fighters, although career fire fighters have also been involved in perpetrating this crime. They are mostly white males, 17 to 26 years old, who may be the highly trained and motivated type that always seems to be in the right place at the right time. They could be working in low paying jobs with low recognition and esteem and have joined the department for gratitude. They may also have overactive fascination with the fire service." http://www.nmfirechiefs.com/ee/index.php/articles/fullstory/address...