A volunteer firefighter in New York, Jonathan Quiles, 20, is facing charges of arson after allegedly setting a brush fire amid a statewide burn ban. Authorities say Quiles, a member of the Medford Fire Department in Suffolk County, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly igniting a fire in Medford that damaged a nearby 2004 Chevrolet.
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Video Evidence Links Firefighter to Blaze
Video footage allegedly linked Quiles to the incident, and an officer recognized his vehicle, leading to his arrest. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine stated that police identified Quiles through the footage.
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Charges and Department Response
Quiles faces five counts of misdemeanor arson and one felony arson charge. He was arraigned Wednesday and has been suspended from the Medford Fire Department, which stated he would be terminated if convicted. The fire department added that background checks had revealed no prior inclination toward arson.
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Community Reaction and Warnings
Brookhaven Supervisor Daniel Panico condemned the incident, emphasizing the potential risk to fellow firefighters and public safety, adding, “No one is above the law.” He expressed hope that the arrest would deter others from similar actions.
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Burn Ban and Red Flag Warnings
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statewide burn ban on Tuesday, effective until the end of the month, as nearly a dozen wildfires burned across the state. Red flag warnings were issued for at least 15 counties, including New York City and Long Island, with the largest fire near Jennings Creek, spanning the New Jersey-New York border.
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