Firefighter admits starting forest blazes to boost his wages
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
A firefighter has admitted starting two blazes in Cleveland to boost his wages.

James R King worked as a seasonal firefighter in Cleveland National Forest during the summer.

Colleagues became suspicious when he warmed up the fire engines before the rest of the crew arrived.

King, 26, pleaded guilty to starting two fires which burned 50 acres of woodland. He will be sentenced in January, when he faces up to 10 years in jail.

He has been freed on bail on condition he wears an electronic monitoring device and lives with his parents.

Federal prosecutor Anne Perry says King has also agreed to pay $101,000 (£69,600) to the US Forest Service for its expenses in fighting the fires.

According to court records, King said he started the fires because he wanted "a little extra on his paycheck", reports the SanDiego Union-Tribune.

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