Oklahoma Firefighter Admits to Setting Seven Blazes

A Boynton volunteer firefighter admitted Thursday to lighting seven fires that burned in Boynton last month.

Dustin Davis, 25, admitted to setting the fires July 29 in three different locations in Boynton, Muskogee County Sheriff's Deputy Darrin Berry said.

Davis admitted to Boynton Fire Chief Steve Allen he set the fires when Allen questioned him.

"His reasoning for doing it, I guess, is he said he's on medication from the VA," Berry said. "And he was missing the camaraderie of being around the guys he worked with. That was a way of getting people together. He didn't want to hurt anyone or damage any property."

Berry said Davis hadn't been arrested and that a warrant would be issued when the Muskogee County District Attorney's Office charged him. Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said there's a 72-hour window to arrest someone for probable cause. Because that 72-hour window has passed and Davis is cooperating with the investigation into all seven fires, deputies are waiting for the District Attorney's office to charge Davis before arresting him.

Berry said Allen said the fires appeared suspicious initially because all seven were ignited in secluded areas.

"Steve said it looked like a fireman had set them, because they were set not to do any damage." Berry said.

Berry said Davis called 911 to report one fire, but gave the dispatcher a fake name. However, Berry said, Davis made the phone call from his personal phone.

"Allen questioned him, and he confessed and said he wanted help," Berry said.

Berry said the largest fire Davis admitted to setting was at Boynton Lake, but grass was the only thing damaged at any of the fires.

Pearson called Allen a hero.

"(Allen) figured it all out," Pearson said. "He called the McAlester 911 call center and listened to the recording from when Davis called and gave a fake name. He was suspecting it was arson almost immediately."

Copyright 2012 - Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service