Volunteer Firefighter Arrested for Intentional Arson on Long Island
In a troubling incident on Tuesday, a volunteer firefighter from Long Island was taken into custody by Suffolk County police after allegedly setting a fire in a wooded area. This arrest comes at a time when New York State is grappling with a significant rise in brush fires and wildfires, fueled by dangerously dry conditions.
The individual, identified as Jonathan E. Quiles, 20, reportedly confessed in a written statement to igniting cotton balls and kicking them under a Chevrolet sedan in Medford, N.Y. This reckless act resulted in the car and surrounding debris going up in flames, contributing to a series of brush fires that were reported in the area on the same day.
As a consequence of his actions, Mr. Quiles faces multiple charges, including second-degree reckless endangerment, as well as fourth-degree and fifth-degree arson. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in a Central Islip courtroom on Wednesday. Following the arraignment, he was placed on supervised release, complete with GPS monitoring. He is scheduled to return to court on Monday for further proceedings.
In light of these events, Mr. Quiles has been suspended from his duties with the Medford Fire District. A letter posted on the department’s Facebook page indicated that he would face termination if convicted. In the same letter, Craig G. Cowell, chairman of the fire district, emphasized that all firefighters undergo thorough arson background checks, and noted that the department had no prior indication that Mr. Quiles might engage in such dangerous behavior.
