Alabama Volunteer Firefighter Charged With Arson

A central Alabama firefighter is charged with setting a fire in an Elmore County community that’s been plagued by a string of suspicious blazes.

WSFA-TV reports that 28-year-old Chad Ellis of Deatsville was arrested Tuesday by the State Fire Marshal’s Office on an arson charge.

Ellis is the assistant chief of the volunteer fire department that serves Deatsville, where four fires have occurred at vacant homes in recent months. State Fire Marshal Scott Pilgreen says investigators believe Ellis is responsible for at least one of the fires.

Officials say tips from the community helped lead to a break in the case.

Court records aren’t yet available to show whether Ellis has an attorney to speak on his behalf.