Last week we were dispatched to a fire standby south of Athens. Enroute to the scene we saw an Athens fire truck and followed him. Made it much easier assuming that he was going to the same place. He was far from the first fire unit on scene. Southside VFD already had several units on scene and there was a bunch of volunteers from other departments there. The fire was almost out, still some smoke when we came on scene. It was in a machine house for the local water plant that was put on fire.
People on scene told us that a young man that was standing at the outside of the scene was the arsonist. There had been a fire at another waterplant just a week ago and he had been seen at that scene as well and was now thoroughly monitored by two men so law enforcement could have a talk to him.
Thankfully no one was hurt in either incidents but the monetary damages must be quite expensive and the inconvenience for the affected residents who won’t have water, not to forget.
I later found an article on Athens Daily Review that the man we saw on scene was arrested for arson, not only for this incident, but also for the one earlier. Click on the logo below for their story.
It is always interesting to get follow ups on calls. Rarely do we get to know what happens after we leave the scene and in a situation like this when the suspect is still on scene you are just curious to know if it was correct. I often wonder why he/she did it. Is it the excitement of the fire? The excitement of the commotion with all emergency vehicles? Why did he stay on scene? Play hero? So many questions I will probably never get an answer of but in this case I at least got some answers. And I pray and hope he will get the help he needs to stop this behaviour.
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