(new details) A Phila Inquirer story 3/24/09 has new details of the firefighter charged with arson. Robert F. Tracey was named Officer of the Year in 2004 and was a volunteer firefighter until last month when he was promoted to a paid position with the Coatesville West End Fire Company. More from the Inquirer.

Tracey is the seventh arson suspect taken into custody. One of the others is a volunteer firefighter, and a third wanted to be a firefighter but was rejected.

Carroll (Chester County District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll) said members of law enforcement were disturbed by Tracey’s affiliation with the fire department, but he said the distress was even greater among firefighters. “They do a tremendous service to the community at all times,” Carroll said.

Original story posted 3/23/09 9:59pm.

Say it isn’t so. KYW Newsradio reports tonight that a Captain with the Coatesville Fire Department has been arrested on charges that he set two arson fires. This is the city near Philadelphia that has seen more than 60 arson related fires in the the past two several months. He is the sixth seventh person arrested for arson, but the first and the second firefighter to be charged. Here’s what KYW reports.

A captain of the Coatesville fire department has been arrested in connection with two recent arsons in the fire-plagued city.

37-year-old Robert Tracey is charged with intentionally setting the blazes late Friday night. (see related story) He is being held on $2 million bail.

I’ve heard that arsonists sometimes turnout to be firefighters, but it’s still mind boggling to think that a firefighter could be responsible for some of these fires.