By Hank Russell
A volunteer firefighter with the Medford Fire Department has been suspended a day after he was arrested for allegedly intentionally setting a brush fire in Medford.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), Jonathan Quiles allegedly intentionally set a fire in a wooded area on Mount Vernon Avenue on November 12 at approximately 3:35 p.m. The fire also damaged a 2004 Chevrolet parked nearby.
The Medford Fire Department, along with other departments, worked to put out the fire, which was north of the Eagle Estates development.
News outlets reported that the fire burned approximately one acre before it was extinguished, only to be alight again.
Following an investigation by SCPD Arson Section detectives, Quiles, 20, of 64 Meyer Lane, Medford, was charged with fourth-degree arson, fifth-degree arson and second-degree reckless endangerment. He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on November 13.
The same day as Quiles’ court appearance, the Medford Fire Department posted on its Facebook page a letter from Fire District Chairman Craig G. Cowell that he has been suspended from the department.
“The Medford Fire District perform arson background checks before admitting members and there was no knowledge to suspect that this individual may have had any inclination of intentionally setting fires,” Cowell wrote. “At this time this individual is suspended and if convicted he will be terminated from the Medford Fire Department.”
Cowell went on to say that the SCPD Arson Squad is investigating the incident. In addition, the Medford Fire Department had no further comment on the incident and referred all inquiries to the Arson Squad.
Just recently, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a burn ban will be in effect until November 30 due to the drought conditions throughout the state and the wildfires in Orange and Ulster Counties.
Speaking about the arrest, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney decried the fact that “intentionally setting fires in the midst of the dangerously dry conditions and a statewide burn ban” is not considered a bail-eligible offense.
“Our New York lawmakers need to get their act together and pass commonsense fixes to a broken bail system,” he said.