Two former firefighters face charges for setting fires and calling in false alarms near Ona.
Allen Black, 19, and Landy Chapman, 18, were charged with starting fires on lands of another and false alarm of fire, according to WSAZ.
Chapman was a probationary member with the Ona Volunteer Fire Department and Black was a member of the Salt Rock Volunteer Fire Department. They were fired from their departments during the investigation, according to Timmy Chastain with the West Virginia Fire Marshal's Office.
The pair would either set fires and respond to the calls, or call in false alarms, Chastain said. Investigators believe they are responsible for six wildfires and one house fire.
"If your own people were out here causing the issue and setting fires, that's devastating to a fire department," Deputy State Fire Marshal Jason Baltic said.
Officials were able to trace several 911 calls for fires back to Black's phone.
The Salt Rock Volunteer fire chief confirmed that he caller's voice was that of his firefighter, Allen Black.
Investigator says Black set one wildfire using a lighter.
The two responded in their personal vehicles to a false call of a wildfire which firefighters were unable to locate any damage.
The two may face additional charges and investigators said they have not ruled out that others might be involved.
"It puts everybody in danger," Baltic told the television station, just days after two Pratt firefighters were killed in a crash responding to a call.
