NAVARRE, Ohio (AP) -- Three volunteer firefighters have been accused of intentionally setting a house fire so they could put it out.
Michael Cross, 20, Aaron Minnis, 23, and Donald L. Lee Jr., 28, were arraigned on felony charges Friday in Massillon Municipal Court and released on bond.
Cross is charged with arson. Police say he poured gasoline onto a carpet inside the home and lit it with a match. Investigators said he earlier failed to light three ignition packets -- containing newspaper, matches and duct tape -- in the home.
Police said Minnis built the packets. He is charged with conspiracy to commit arson and unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance. Lee is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson.
``I have no idea what the motive was behind this,'' said Shane Stantz, interim fire chief.
The men are suspended pending the outcome of their cases. Stantz said Cross joined the 18-member department in February 2003, Lee in May 2003 and Minnis in December 2002.
After the fire was set Monday, police chief Scott Bauschka said, the men were among the 11 volunteer firefighters who responded.
``I just think they wanted to fight a fire,'' Bauschka said.
The men could not be reached for comment. There were no telephone listings in Navarre for Cross and Minnis, and a listing for Lee had been disconnected.
Navarre is about 10 miles west of Canton.
