The Citizens’ Voice
LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Arson charges against the treasurer and former president of the were bound over to county court Tuesday.
Member of the now-defunct fire company Joseph Powers, 42, of 1811 Henry Drive, Rice Township, was arrested Oct. 8 for arson and reckless burning. At Powers’ preliminary hearing Tuesday, Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer bound the charges over to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.
Wilkes-Barre City police and its fire department responded July 19 to a fire at 87 Holland St., which is owned by Wright Township firefighter Chris Krout, around 11 p.m., according to investigators. Witnesses told police they saw a man coming out of the residence, smoke detectors went off and smoke started coming out of the home. They said the man got in a Dodge van and left.
While police were still on scene, Powers returned and was identified as the suspect.
In a written statement to police, Powers said he was using a blowtorch while working at the residence. He said he was positive he had turned the torch off before leaving. He told police he only returned to the scene because he forgot to lock up the residence.
An investigation revealed the fire had four separate points of origin and were incendiary at all four points.
Powers was jailed Oct. 8 at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility and was bailed out on $100,000 straight cash bail.
Rice Township Police Chief Bob Frank Jr. told The Citizens Voice that although Powers is currently the treasurer, the company, formerly the Rice Township Fire Department, is not active and does not respond to calls since township supervisors decertified and defunded it in June 2013 amid efforts to improve service and a struggle to find volunteers. The township last year hired the Wright Township Fire Department after a merger between the two departments fell through.
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