A volunteer firefighter has been accused of intentionally setting fires to put out.
Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania arrested 29-year-old Justin Sholly over the weekend after an investigation linked him to three separate fires that broke out over a roughly 24-hour period in Souderton and surrounding areas.
According to investigators, the incidents unfolded between Friday and Saturday and included multiple structures, vehicles, and outdoor properties on fire. Several occupied homes were located near the affected areas, raising concerns about the potential danger to residents.
The first incident involved a fire that damaged a garage and barn structure situated behind a residence. Later that day, emergency responders were called to extinguish a separate outdoor fire.
Hours afterward, firefighters were dispatched to another scene where multiple areas of a property were burning simultaneously, including outbuildings, vehicles, and other structures.
Authorities say evidence gathered during the investigation eventually pointed to Sholly, who serves with the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company.
Court documents allege Sholly confessed to setting each of the fires. Investigators also claim he later joined fellow firefighters responding to some of the incidents after first returning to his station.
Officials said technology used to track vehicle movements helped detectives identify a suspect and piece together the timeline of events.
Investigators further allege that one of the locations targeted by the fires was connected to a person Sholly believed had fired him from a previous job years earlier.
The Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company announced that Sholly has been suspended from duty while the case moves through the legal system.
In a statement, the department said the allegations are incompatible with the organization's mission and the values expected of its members.
No injuries were reported during any of the fires, though authorities noted that multiple occupied homes were located near the affected properties.
Sholly faces several criminal charges, including arson-related offenses. Court records indicate he has not yet entered a plea and the investigation remains ongoing.
