Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Three Pennsylvania firefighters have been charged with setting multiple fires last fall. Joshua Lightcap, 23, Mason Howard, 21, and an unnamed 16-year-old are facing arson charges over a series of fires set in Lancaster County.
The arrests follow a three-month investigation. All three were members of the Hempfield Fire Department, and responded to the fires they set. The fires occurred between October 26, 2024 and November 28, 2024, and included brush fires, a shed fire and a fire in an old railroad building.
According to the East Hempfield Township Police Department, the fires were:
- October 26, 2024, approximately 3:20am: Field fire in the 6100 block of Metzler Rd.
- November 2, 2024, approximately 12:05am: Railroad shed in the 100 block of E. Main St., Landisville.
- November 8, 2024, approximately 8:15pm: Field fire in the 6100 block of Metzler Rd.
- November 9, 2024, approximately 12:50am: Brush fire in the 1300 block of Junction Rd. This fire resulted in the loss of over $15,000 worth of corn fodder bales.
- November 28, 2024, approximately 2:40am: Shed fire in the 200 block of Leisure Rd., Landisville.
The police list the charges against each as follows:
- Lightcap: Arson (4 counts); Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Arson (3 counts); Recklessly Endangering Another Person (1 count); Possession of Instruments of Crime (3 counts); and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Agricultural Vandalism (1 count)
- Howard: Arson (2 counts); Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Agricultural Vandlism (1 count); Possession of Instruments of Crime (2 counts); Recklessly Endangering Another Person (1 count); Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Arson (3 counts)
- Juvenile: Arson (4 counts); Recklessly Endangering Another Person (1 count); Agricultural Vandalism (1 count); Possession of Instruments of Crime (4 counts); Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Arson (4 counts).
