Two Maine firefighters face arson charges

(NECN: Amy Sinclair, Lock Mills, Maine) - Two Maine men are facing arson charges this week stemming from fires on opposite ends of the state. But the suspects have something else in common. Early Tuesday morning, firefighters in western Maine, fought to save two houses in the small town of Lock Mills. Hours later, 28 year old Jeffrey Tyler of Bethel was charged with arson. Just last week, police charged 23-year-old Tim Macfarline of Easton, Maine in connection with a warehouse fire in Presque Isle that burned for 13 hours. Both men served on the departments that fought to put out those fires. And while the State Fire Marshall’s office wouldn't speak directly about these cases, Lt. Joe Thomas says firefighters who start fires often fit a similar profile. Joe: "What the literature shows is that arsonist firefighters are usually volunteers usually between ages 18-25 and loners." And he adds, the fires are usually set in buildings that are vacant. Thomas says it's hard to say what turns public servants into public menaces. He says in some cases they're trying to be heroes by being the first to call in a fire, other times they're just chasing thrills. Joe: "You certainly try to screen for these behaviors but is it a perfect science? I don't think so they do the best they can." And the fire isn't the only damage done here. When firefighters are implicated in fires, it hurts morale at the department and possibly the departments reputation in the community. And firefighters, the vast majority of whom take their commitment to serve the public to heart, are left wondering if they somehow should have known. Joe: "That individual put their own peers in jeopardy that's a difficult thing to analyze in your mind, is how could one of our own do this" Lt Thomas says the public should take comfort in knowing how rare these cases are, and when they happen, the suspects are brought to justice quickly before they can strike another match and strike again.