An Iowa Firefighter Helped His Unit Put Out Multiple Fires. Now, He’s Accused of Setting Them.
Volunteer firefighter arrested for starting multiple fires and then helping the crew to put them out.
Oct. 3 2023, Published 11:07 a.m. ET
A firefighter in Iowa helped his unit put out multiple fires over the past few years and now authorities say he has been accused of starting those fires.
According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, Kendall Eugene Rhoads, 60, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of arson and one count of reckless use of fire or explosives.
In April, deputies initiated an investigation into a string of fires, primarily consisting of ditch fires.
According to the department, some of these fires extended into adjacent cornfields, while others “included buildings on abandoned properties.”
Rhoads has been serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Holland Fire Department for the past six years, officials said.
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He allegedly would start the fires and then respond with the fire department and help in putting the fires out, authorities said.
The investigation is ongoing and the sheriff’s office has asked the public to contact them with any further information.
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