Pittsburgh-area firefighter suspended by department after arrest, charges filed in string of suspected arsons
ARNOLD, Pa. (KDKA) -- An Arnold firefighter has been suspended by his own department after he was arrested and charged with setting four fires in the same community his department serves.
The Arnold Fire Department announced early Thursday that they suspended 21-year-old firefighter Andrew Bischof after his arrest on arson charges in connection to four suspicious fires in the New Kensington and Arnold areas over the weekend.
Pennsylvania State Police arrested Bischof Wednesday night on multiple charges, including arson, aggravated arson, causing or risking catastrophe, criminal mischief, burglary and criminal trespass.
Arnold Fire Chief Eric Gartley said he's appalled, frustrated and hurt about what his department experienced in the last six days.
"A lot of our service is based in trust, and this type of action betrays that," Gartley said.
The fires started Saturday morning at an abandoned building on Fourth Avenue and ended Sunday night on Leishman Avenue. They all took place less than a half-mile away from one another.
Court records describe the last fire was at a home belonging to Bischof's family, and that surveillance video showed him leaving the scene and returning with the station. There, Gartley said two firefighters were involved in a deck collapse, where EMS crews transported one to the hospital for evaluation. Both are now back in service.
"We're very mad about this, because of all the effort we put in and all of the sacrifices we made, you know, family and in our free time," Gartley said.
Bischof joined the department just five days before the first building went up in flames. Gartley said they found nothing out of the ordinary at any time, and no criminal record during a background check.
Previously, Bischof was a member of the former Citizens Volunteer Fire Company before he joined the United States Navy, from which he was honorably discharged.
"We were really blindsided," Gartley said.
Now, Gartley just asks why as he and his department take things in stride.
"We keep doing our job. We've answered calls since these and we still provide the same service and go out there with the same enthusiasm," Gartley said.
In a statement, the department says in part:
"We recognize the level of public trust that the community places with the fire department and we take that trust seriously. We will not tolerate these actions. We will continue to work with local and state law enforcement to ensure justice is served."
The department says that Bischof's suspension will be in place until his legal proceedings are complete. He is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail and is due back in court for his preliminary hearings next Thursday.
