Firefighters Arrested For Starting Fire

Friday, March 30th 2007, 9:34 am

By: News On 6

Two firefighters have been arrested in connection with Washington County grass fire last month. The two men, William Wright and Donald Cole, both of Bartlesville, were each arrested on a complaint of 3rd degree arson. The two are accused of starting a February 6th blaze in rural Washington County.

Both men are volunteer for the Oglesby Fire Department, southeast of Bartlesville.

Washington County Sheriffâ€™s deputies say the tire tracks at the scene of the blaze raised suspicions. The tracks made by â€˜dirt track race carâ€™ tires led investigators to a vehicle driven by Wright. Wright reportedly told deputies, he and Cole started the fire. Wright went on to tell deputies, both he and Cole started the fire with a cigarette lighter and returned home and waited for a page from the Oglesby Fire Department.

Deputies say both men responded to the page and helped put out the blaze.