SHADE TOWNSHIP, Pa. --
A Central City Firefighter confesses to sparking a blaze at an abandoned home in the borough, now fire inspectors said it didn't start there. Now WJAC-TV found out suspect and suspended Central City Firefighter Thomas Russell II faces a long list of arson charges accusing him of burning acres of land.
The first fire started on April 6, burning half of an acre of land off of Huskin Road in Shade Township, Somerset County.
The next day fire crews responded to a wildfire on Shaffer Mountain Road that burned around 5 acres of land in Shade Township. Investigators said fire was set to piles of tires.
A few days later crews stopped a fire from ripping through an abandoned home in Central City Borough.
Investigators blame all three fires on Russell. Bureau of Forestry officials said the fires started with road flares, and Paint Township Police found similar flares in Russell's car.
Central City Fire Officials didn't want to comment on the investigation, but officials said Russell is suspended until further notice.
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