Vienna, NY -- A volunteer fire chief and a firefighter have been charged in connection with suspicious fires in Oneida County, state police said.
On Friday, firefighters and state police responded to a report of a suspicious fire at a seasonal residence at 8177 Yager Road, in the town of Vienna. The fire was put out by members of the McConnellsville Fire Department but the house was heavily damaged by the fire, troopers said.
An investigation into the incident revealed that someone was involved in starting the fire, troopers said. As a result of an investigation one man was arrested.
McConnellsville Fire Chief Howard Roache, 35, was charged with felony arson. He's accused of starting the fire, troopers said.
McConellsville Firefighter James Goold, 54, was also charged with felony arson in connection with starting a different fire at an abandoned maintenance building in a gravel bed at 3047 Wheeler Hill Rd., in the town of Annsville on Feb. 2.
Roach and Goold are awaiting arraignment. An investigation into several other suspicious fires in the area is ongoing, troopers said.