Olney fire chief reacts to firefighter arrested for arson

ONLEY, Va. (WAVY) — A firefighter with Onley Fire-Rescue has been arrested and charged following an investigation into several suspicious fires.

Fire Chief Chris Davis and Virginia State Police confirmed to 10 On Your Side Thursday that Brandon Haynes was arrested and charged. Davis said the department responded to “an unusually high amount of fire-related incidents” during the winter of 2015/2016.

Chief Davis said he suspected the person(s) starting the fires was a member of the fire service, possibly his own.

“We made lots of responses to working fires,” said David. “And we were first to arrive, you start adding those things up, it just doesn’t line up with what would be normal.”

Virginia State Police was called in to investigate. The chief confirmed none of the fires were occupied structures; they involved abandoned homes, buildings, cars and hay.

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