Summary:
A Long Island volunteer firefighter, Jonathan Quiles, was arrested for setting a brush fire in Medford.
The fire was one of several that broke out in Suffolk County this week, due to exceptionally dry conditions.
Quiles is facing charges of arson and reckless endangerment.
The Medford Fire Department has suspended Quiles as a volunteer.
The New York City area is experiencing its driest period in 160 years, making the fires particularly difficult to control.
Long Island Firefighter Arrested for Starting Brush Fires During Historic Drought
A Long Island volunteer firefighter, Jonathan Quiles, was arrested on Tuesday night after allegedly confessing to starting one of the brush fires that swept through the town of Medford earlier that day.
Quiles, 20, is accused of intentionally setting a fire in a wooded area on Mount Vernon Avenue, causing damage to a nearby car. The blaze was one of several brush fires that broke out in Suffolk County this week, taxing firefighters who struggled to extinguish them due to the extremely dry conditions.
The New York City area is experiencing its driest period in 160 years, according to Fox Weather, making the fires particularly difficult to control.
Quiles is facing charges of arson and reckless endangerment. The Medford Fire Department has suspended him as a volunteer.
The Medford Fire District has stated that they conduct arson background checks on all members, and were unaware of any indication that Quiles might intentionally start fires.
Quiles is scheduled to be arraigned in Central Islip on Wednesday.
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