Nebraska Firefighter Facing Arson Charges

WYMORE, Neb. (AP) -- A longtime volunteer firefighter is facing four felony counts of arson for allegedly setting grass fires in 2003.

Authorities accused Bryan Campbell, 37, of setting fires that burned a total of 235 acres at four locations near Odell and Liberty in southern Gage County.

The charges were filed after an investigation by a deputy state fire marshal. The investigator said the fires were set in March 2003 by using a time delay device that could be thrown into a roadside ditch.

Gage County Court documents claim Campbell evaded fire and law enforcement officials by listening to a scanner in his vehicle. Authorities said he would not respond to the fires as a volunteer firefighter but would watch the fires - sometimes from a distance.

Campbell had an appearance bond set at $20,000. He was scheduled to be back in court on September 3.

Campbell also is charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child in a separate case. A competency hearing is scheduled in Gage County District Court for Aug. 13.