An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter who swore to protect his community is now accused of setting it ablaze. Dakoda Winchester was taken into custody on Oct. 20 and faces 16 felony arson charges tied to a string of fires that officials say tore through grass, fences, vehicles and structures in Moore and Pearsall, Texas.
Winchester was a member of the Moore Volunteer Fire Department when the suspected arsons took place, according to FOX 7 Austin. The State Fire Marshal's Office said the fires caused significant damage and threatened public safety, a description that underscores just how serious investigators consider the case against one of their own department's ranks.
The Moore Volunteer Fire Department's command staff didn't sit on their suspicions. After noticing multiple fires breaking out in the same geographical area, the department's leadership asked the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Frio County Sheriff's Office to step in and investigate, the station's report notes.
A Widening Multi-Agency Investigation
The case has since grown well beyond two local agencies. According to Ein Presswire, the State Fire Marshal's Office is working alongside the Frio County Sheriff's Office, the 81st Judicial District Criminal Interdiction Task Force, Texas Game Wardens and the Pearsall ISD Police Department to piece together the full scope of the fires.
Per FOX San Antonio, the fires have occurred since mid-September in the same geographic area, though detectives did not give a timeline for when each individual suspected arson happened. A potential motive also remains unclear, and authorities have not said whether all the fires are linked to the same pattern of behavior.
Bond Set, More Charges Expected
Winchester's bond was set at $480,000 following his arrest, and authorities say they expect more charges to be filed as the investigation progresses. The department has since relieved Winchester of all his duties, cutting ties with the teen firefighter as the case against him unfolds.
In a statement, the Moore Volunteer Fire Department said Winchester's alleged conduct did not reflect its values or its commitment to serving and protecting the residents of Moore and Frio County. The department added that it recognizes the concern this case has stirred in the community and remains committed to the public it serves.
Not an Isolated Case in Texas
Winchester's arrest isn't the only recent case of a Texas volunteer firefighter accused of setting the very fires they were sworn to fight. In Washington County, a former volunteer firefighter, 49-year-old Ronald Perry of Brenham, was indicted by a grand jury on a second-degree felony arson charge, according to KXXV. Perry is suspected of setting numerous wildland fires in that area between 2020 and 2026 and was held on a $100,000 bond, with the investigation involving the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.
No court records, jail documents or charging paperwork have been independently reviewed to verify the specifics of Winchester's 16 charges or his bond amount beyond what authorities have stated, and his current custody status, legal representation and any court date have not been disclosed. For now, the Moore community is left waiting to learn how deep the investigation into one of its own firefighters will go.
