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Pennsylvania Firefighters Caused Over $2 Million in Arson Damage
BOB REYNOLDS
WNEP
Reprinted with Permission
Three men who are supposed to save lives and put out fires are charged with an arson spree in Schuylkill County.
State police said when the trio were firefighters they set nine fires, over a four-month period, causing more than $2 million in damage.
The three volunteer firefighters with the Friedensburg Fire Company have been suspended and are facing felony charges.
Accused are Matthew Dixon, 18, of Friedensburg, Jonathan Eichert, 21, of Orwigsburg and Shawn Hoy, 21, of Pine Grove.
One of the fires they are accused of setting leveled a barn last year near New Ringgold.
Farmer Jim Birdsall owned the building. "It's senseless, for fun or something. They get all excited about fire and they want to do more," he said. "They are supposed to be protecting us and they're hurting us. It's a shock that young people are getting involved in something bad."
A few miles away a home was also hit. Jeff Hill's 86-year-old mother was inside the house when the fire started.
"They smashed out the window and threw a fire bomb in and luckily she was sleeping on the couch and it woke her up," Hill said. He added the arsonists were brazen, even pulling into the front yard before setting the house on fire.
Police said when the suspects were done with the house they targeted the Hill's barn.
"When they lit the barn they closed the doors so you couldn't see the fire inside and then we saw the smoke coming out of the eves of the barn," Hill added.
The fire in the barn was contained but all of this has affected Hill's elderly mother.
"My mother is now in assisted living because she's very, very scared. She's afraid to be alone now. She's 86 years old," said Hill.
A few miles away there is little left to a 300-year-old family barn which was also targeted.
"I would hate to meet them," said barn owner Lamont Baver. "I don't know what I'd do with them. I lost a lot of money, about $250,000, all the farm equipment and the barn."
Troopers said they expect more arrests.
Court papers state officials at the Friedensburg Fire Department cooperated fully with the state police investigation and the three firefighters admit to their involvement.
They have been suspended from the fire company.
Copyright © 2010, WNEP-TV
WNEP
Reprinted with Permission
Three men who are supposed to save lives and put out fires are charged with an arson spree in Schuylkill County.
State police said when the trio were firefighters they set nine fires, over a four-month period, causing more than $2 million in damage.
The three volunteer firefighters with the Friedensburg Fire Company have been suspended and are facing felony charges.
Accused are Matthew Dixon, 18, of Friedensburg, Jonathan Eichert, 21, of Orwigsburg and Shawn Hoy, 21, of Pine Grove.
One of the fires they are accused of setting leveled a barn last year near New Ringgold.
Farmer Jim Birdsall owned the building. "It's senseless, for fun or something. They get all excited about fire and they want to do more," he said. "They are supposed to be protecting us and they're hurting us. It's a shock that young people are getting involved in something bad."
A few miles away a home was also hit. Jeff Hill's 86-year-old mother was inside the house when the fire started.
"They smashed out the window and threw a fire bomb in and luckily she was sleeping on the couch and it woke her up," Hill said. He added the arsonists were brazen, even pulling into the front yard before setting the house on fire.
Police said when the suspects were done with the house they targeted the Hill's barn.
"When they lit the barn they closed the doors so you couldn't see the fire inside and then we saw the smoke coming out of the eves of the barn," Hill added.
The fire in the barn was contained but all of this has affected Hill's elderly mother.
"My mother is now in assisted living because she's very, very scared. She's afraid to be alone now. She's 86 years old," said Hill.
A few miles away there is little left to a 300-year-old family barn which was also targeted.
"I would hate to meet them," said barn owner Lamont Baver. "I don't know what I'd do with them. I lost a lot of money, about $250,000, all the farm equipment and the barn."
Troopers said they expect more arrests.
Court papers state officials at the Friedensburg Fire Department cooperated fully with the state police investigation and the three firefighters admit to their involvement.
They have been suspended from the fire company.
Copyright © 2010, WNEP-TV
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Station10Capt106 on
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it's a shame that there seems to be a black sheep in every family. And the sad part is how a few bad seeds can taint the whole brotherhood.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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It is beyond comprehension how individuals can risk lives and destroy property with such wanton disregard. They have already confessed to the crime ,Why in #%$$ are they not dismissed from the department rather than suspended. This makes us all hang our heads in shame.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Three men who are supposed to save lives and put out fires are charged with an arson spree in Schuylkill County.
Mutts AND terrorists.
What's going to get the blame? Bad parenting? School system? Drug or alcohol use? Failed relationship? Parents divorced? Bored and looking for something to do? ADD? Hazing?
Certainly they won't take responsibility for what they're done. Especially to the 86 year old mother/grandmother.
In case you haven't noticed, PA has a problem.
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Permalink Reply by Cory J Hurlbut on
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I really do not know what would make it seem right in the minds of these three it makes all young firefighters look bad.
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Permalink Reply by Steve on
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What the hell is wrong with the young people (kids)coming into the service now. we try to recruit people in their early to mid thirtys they seem to stay around longer, but like most departments we get more of the 18 to 20 year olds and sadly that seems to be the age group that keeps doing this all over the country.
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP!?!?!!! I think everyone in the fire service should take the hero to zero class to show the consequences of starting a ARSON fire.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Roy, they were arrested and charged but no yet convicted, innocent until proven guilty. Seems a shame to have to wait till (or if) a jury convicts them but in the long run, it works best that way. Otherwise we end up with mob justice.
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Permalink Reply by Rick on
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This isn't going away and it's not just Pa. Voulnteerism nationwide is at an all time low. The current economic situation and increasing requirements ie: , NFPA standards ,training, duty hours etc. for volunteers makes volunteering unattractive or not feasible for a lot of interested responsible adults. I think most volunteer companies would be more selective if they actually had a pool of candidates to choose from. In hard times most are trying to get bodies out the door and to the scene to operate safely and to do that they recruit almost anyone that can pass the initial background check. On the other side of the fence most paid departments have a very high priority placed on diversity or having members that mirror the community they serve. Achieving diversity if done correctly is very expensive. Most jurisdictions do not have the funds to aggressivly recruit highly qualified individuals so they lower their standards to achieve there desired results. This allows unqualifed individuals of EVERY race and gender to to be employeed ( FDNY, LA, Balt.). So with both sides of the fire service lowering their expectations, expect to see more IDIOTS on both sides slip thru the recruitment cracks. All we can do is weed them out as they are discovered.
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Ya but there is still good 18 and 20 year olds out there....the news just shows you the bad sides and never the good that these kids can do.
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Permalink Reply by J. Kevin Boyd on
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I do not understand what thees guys were thinking.In my Dept we had a 19year old male and a 29 year old female {Chief Wife, now X-Chief} set fires.He got 22 to 48 years and she is do for trial this Summer.All but two of the fires they set had People living there. They wanted to Rescue the People.He was voted out of the Co.She Resigned
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