Fireman Sets His Home On Fire Twice

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Bennington, Vermont police have charged a local firefighter with arson. Police say Ralph Brown Jr., 41, a Captain with the Bennington Fire Department, told them he set fire to his wife's home twice to collect insurance money to pay for surgery so she could become pregnant, according to the Bennington Banner.

Brown was ordered held without bail Wednesday after pleading not guilty to a variety of charges, including two counts of first degree arson, according to the newspaper.

On Friday morning, February 26, firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire at a home owned by Stacy Brown. No one was home at the time and the fire was extinguished, according to the Bennington Police Department. Fire Chief Tyler Hollister reported the fire to be electrical in nature, originating in the basement and was not considered suspicious.

The next morning, firefighters once again responded to the home for a fire on the second floor, according to the paper. The house is home to both Brown's, Joe Thomas and four children.

Also charged in the case are Thomas, 26, and Stacy Brown, 34, who faces charges of aiding in the commission of a felony. Both were released on bail and will answer to the charges today in court, according to the Banner.

Sgt. David Rowland, a detective with the police department told the paper that Ralph Brown said in an affidavit he twisted wires above a furnace to start the fire in the basement and used a propane torch to start the second fire.

According to police chief Richard Gauthier, an insurance adjuster offered Brown $40,000 to cover damages caused by the basement fire and that was not enough for the surgery so he set the second fire.

Brown will appear in Bennington District Court on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 for a hearing on the charges.
Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com