Police: Beaver Co. Business Fire Intentionally Set By Volunteer Firefighter
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A volunteer firefighter is facing charges for allegedly setting a Beaver County business on fire.
Rice Excavating and Plumbing along Lend Street in Franklin Township went up in flames on the night of April 8.
According to police, the first person on the scene was 21-year-old David Williams who was dressed in gear from the Wurtemburg-Perry Volunteer Fire Department in Lawrence County, which is five miles away.
"The fire department he claimed to be a volunteer at was not the fire department that handles the local area," said Franklin Township Police Chief Rudy Harkins. "They were completely unaware that he had any gear. From what I've been told, he was not certified to be out fighting fires just yet."
That was the first red flag for police.
The second hunch came in Williams' first story of what happened.
Authorities say he told police he stepped onto his front porch, smelled smoke, drove over to the building in his gear, kicked in the door to make sure no one was trapped inside, and then went back home and told his live-in girlfriend to call 911.
But police say this is what really happened, in Williams' own words.
"He lit the building on fire. He stated to us, he walked through the building with a cigarette lighter, lighting papers, files and materials on fire," said Chief Harkins.
Williams told police he also allegedly set a brush fire two weeks prior this most recent incident.
He was in the Beaver County Jail, but has since posted 10 percent of a $30,000 bond and was released.
Williams is facing a list of charges including, arson, burglary and criminal trespass.
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