By Bill Miller
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
DALLAS — A firefighter was arrested early Monday at the scene of a small grass fire in Pleasant Grove area of southeast Dallas, but so far he has only been charged with driving while intoxicated, according to reports.
Michael Taylor, 34, was booked into a the Dallas County jail system at about 5:15 a.m., according to jail records. He was off duty at the time of his arrest, said Paul Lara, a spokesman for Dallas Fire-Rescue.
The fire was reported at about 3 a.m. near the intersection of Masters Drive and Grady Lane, said Sherrie Lopez, Fire-Rescue spokeswoman.
It was quickly doused, Lopez said.
But police officers, who also responded, noticed a truck leaving the scene, so they stopped it, Lopez said.
Driving it was Taylor, who was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated, Lopez said.
A gas can was found in the back of the truck, but Lopez noted that investigators had not yet connected Taylor with the fire.
She explained that police are handling the DWI portion of the case and Fire-Rescue is investigating the grass fire.
“It’s a two-fold investigation,” Lopez said.
Taylor, a resident of Mesquite, has worked six years for Dallas Fire-Rescue as a firefighter and paramedic, Lopez said.
Lara said that Taylor will be on administrative leave during the investigations.
Copyright 2008 Fort Worth Star-Telegram