Scheme to Get Grant Leads to Arrest of Fire Chief, Firefighters in Ramer, TN
A fire chief who allegedly told two firefighters to set fires so the department would receive a grant has been arrested.
Ramer Fire Chief Jacob King, 23, was charged with two counts each of facilitation to commit arson and conspiracy to commit arson, abc24 reported.
The firefighters' alleged involvement surfaced during a probe of a vacant structure fire by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents and investigators with Selmer Fire Department.
They also started looking into other fires that involved fields and other buildings.
Ramer Firefighters Gabriel Vandiver and Trevor Williams as well as King were arrested based on the findings of the probe.
Vandiver was charged with vandalism and arson while Williams was charged with two counts of the same.
King reportedly told the firefighters to set field fires in the department's first due area to increase the call volume which could boost their chances of getting a grant, according to court records obtained by WBBJ.
Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
