Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A fire department in Pennsylvania is investigating how a former member who was convicted of arson and banned for life from serving as a firefighter, donned turnout gear and operated at a house fire.
Francis Kestner Jr. allegedy operated at a house fire last Saturday night along side members of the Mt. Oliver Fire Department. Kestner, son of Mt. Oliver Fire Chief Francis Kestner, was a member of the department until accused of setting a series of fires in 2002-2003. He pled guilty, was sentenced to five years of probation, and was banned from ever serving as a firefighter.
Kestner was seen operating at the fire wearing Mt. Oliver turnout gear. Department officials are trying to determine if anyone asked him to assist at the fire, or whether he trespassed by entering the fire station to obtain the gear.
