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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 Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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so, who was asking why fire departments have to do psychological background checks?
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Mike I'm not convinced a psych test would be fail safe either. It'd help, but....
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Cap Mizzou:
As many prominent fire service members have said before me; once a firefighter sets the fire, they are no longer a brother nor are they in the brotherhood. The trial or plea bargain and the sentence are only the exclamation points.
When they are arrested and ADMIT to setting fires, it is no longer a case of "innocent until proven guilty".
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