A Texas volunteer firefighter has been accused of setting brush fires he was supposed to extinguish. David Matthew Neet, 44, a volunteer firefighter and EMS member, faces 20 counts of felony arson related to multiple fires in Alpine, Texas that started in 2023 and persisted into 2024. Neet's arrest on July 5 was the culmination of investigations led by Brewster County Sheriff's deputies and Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement, as reported by FOX 26 Houston.
According to NewsNation Now, Neet, arrested last Friday, is believed to have used delayed incendiary devices to initiate the fires, a method unearthed during the investigation which included a review of DNA evidence and cellphone data. Assistant Chief Law Enforcement Officer Jarred Lemmon indicated that the investigation could reveal his involvement in more than the 20 fires he's currently charged with. Held at the Brewster County Detention Center, Neet's bond has been set at $300,000.
Fire-related crimes continue to press upon resources in Texas, with authorities responding to 70 wildfire investigations and 48 timber theft complaints since the start of the year. "We investigate wildland arson cases and work to bring those responsible to justice," Assistant Chief Lemmon told FOX 26 Houston, acknowledging the efforts of Brewster County Deputy Holquin in the case.
The phenomena of firefighters starting fires, though seemingly contradictory, is not unheard of—roughly 100 firefighters nationwide find themselves under arrest for such actions every year, based on figures from the National Volunteer Fire Council cited by NewsNation Now.
