Pennsylvania volunteer firefighter allegedly set fires, then helped extinguish them
FILE - Mug shot of Justin Sholly. (Montgomery County Office of the District Attorney)
A former volunteer firefighter in Pennsylvania has been arrested after he allegedly set multiple fires and then responded to the scene with the fire department to help extinguish them.
Justin Sholly, 29, was a member of the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company in Souderton. He has since been terminated, according to a statement shared on the fire agency’s Facebook account.
What they're saying:
"We want to assure the community that this incident does not represent the character or integrity of our dedicated volunteers. Our emergency response services remain fully operational, and our commitment to serving the public remains steadfast," a statement on the agency’s Facebook page read.
Dig deeper:
Sholly is accused of setting a series of fires between May 29, 2026, and May 30, 2026.
Using license plate reader records and surveillance footage, investigators were able to spot Sholly’s vehicle near each fire incident before the blazes began.
Timeline:
Firefighters were first dispatched to a pile of wood logs that were set on fire on the side of a roadway on the afternoon of Friday, May 29, according to a criminal complaint filed on May 31, 2026.
Sholly allegedly admitted that he knew that a former employer who fired him in 2025 lived nearby before lighting the blaze.
A few hours later and into Saturday morning, crews responded to a massive barn fire which began after Sholly allegedly stuffed a fire starter log in a bag of trash before placing it against the barn.
The fire eventually spread to three vehicles, a shed, an outhouse and a gazebo, causing major damage.
A home nearby the blaze had eight people inside. Sholly admitted he was aware of the occupants but proceeded to light the fire anyway, the complaint read.
Investigators later searched Sholly’s car and garage and found multiple fire logs, lighter fluid, a lighter and a box containing fire-starting materials.
Sholly has been charged with multiple offenses, including arson, endangering property, reckless burning, possession of incendiary material and recklessly endangering another person.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a criminal complaint filed on May 31, 2026, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Facebook posts published by the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company. This story was reported from San Jose.