Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Three volunteer firefighters in three different states are in the news today for misconduct, and the charges are no surprise: arson and theft from a volunteer fire department.
In Idaho, an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter has been arrested for setting a wildfire fire that has already claimed one home and burned over 250 acres. Nathaniel Bartholomew, a firefighter with the Clear Creek Fire Department, was arrested Monday evening while he was actively fighting the Karney Fire that at the time was only 15% contained.
In North Carolina, a deputy chief and treasurer of a volunteer department has been charged with embezzling $300,000 from the department. Joey Burgette was arrested last week on eight felony counts. According to police, the 42-year-old deputy chief from the Warsaw Fire Department also served as department treasurer.
And in Defiance, Ohio, a volunteer firefighter was arrested for setting a riding lawnmower inside his garage on fire last June. Mark Paul Seibert, 29, is facing two aggravated arson counts in Defiance County Common Pleas Court. The fire occurred on June 18, 2012. According to news reports, the offenses were considered aggravated because someone was sleeping inside the house at the time. Seibert was affiliated with several area fire departments, including Defiance City Fire Department, South Richland and Highland Township fire departments. He also volunteered with the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office.
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