Associated Press
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine — Investigators plan to review fires that took place during the tenure of a Maine fire chief charged with setting a blaze that burned 42 acres and required the efforts of more than 100 firefighters to douse.
Court documents filed in conjunction with former Old Orchard Beach fire chief Ricky Plummer’s first appearance before a judge Monday indicate he told an investigator he accidentally set the grass fire with a carelessly discarded cigarette.
Plummer was arrested over the weekend. Bail remained at $10,000 cash. Plummer plans to seek a court-appointed lawyer.
Plummer was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, and grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He served two decades before retiring as fire chief in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He also served in fire departments in Massachusetts, Florida and Virginia.
Maine fire marshals are going to review fires in towns where he served.