Volunteer firefighter admits to starting 13 fires

He told police he set the fires because he enjoyed battling them and responded to each one he set

March 05, 2015 09:17 AM

The Times-Leader

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — A volunteer firefighter turned serial arsonist must pay tens of thousands in restitution — with more to come — after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a number of 2012 fires.

David Charles Donnora, 25, of Pittston, entered guilty pleas Monday to arson, burglary and burning charges before Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas, court records indicate.

State police charged the man in January 2013 with setting five fires.

He must make more than $20,000 in restitution in connection with two of the blazes, court papers say, but that figure is likely to climb as restitution in at least two other cases remains uncalculated.

Donnora is scheduled to be sentenced April 27.

According to police, Donnora admitted to setting a total of 13 fires from May 6 to Dec. 10, 2012, throughout Laflin, Pittston and Dupont while a firefighter with the Dupont Volunteer Hose Company.

Donnora confessed to state police during an interview about the Dec. 10 fire at 251 Main Street, Dupont, police say. He was the only firefighter from the Dupont department who did not appear to be interviewed by state police the day after the fire.

In a Dec. 13 meeting with investigators, Donnora said he was heading for the gym when he learned of the fire, according to a criminal complaint, but changed his account days later when police told him they had information that he started the fire.

Donnora then said he in fact started the blaze, setting fire to a couch on the back porch of the residence and then returned home where he awaited the dispatch call, according to police. He also told investigators he was familiar with the home and knew a person was living there, police say.

He then allegedly told police he set the Dec. 10 fire and 12 others because he enjoyed battling them and responded to each one he set.

The fires Donnora allegedly admitted to setting included two Dupont structure fires; two separate fires at the same unoccupied building and a trailer fire in Pittston Township; and six brush fires and a railroad tie fire in Laflin.