Louisiana Firefighter Charged with Arson

A volunteer firefighter in Iberia Parish, Louisiana is facing charges that he set a vacant house on fire on the 4th of July. Kentrelle Beasley, Jr., age 18, was charged with simple arson following an investigation by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office.

Beasley, a member of the Jeanerette Fire Department, had only been with the department for three months. Shortly after midnight last Saturday, he set the fire on the from porch, reported the fire to other firefighters at the station, and responded to the scene to extinguish it.

According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire chief had suspicions about Beasley’s involvement and confronted him. He confessed to the chief and later to the SFM’s deputies. According to KATC Channel 3, Beasley set the fire so he could help put it out. He has been relieved of duty.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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