Firefighter accused of lighting, not fighting flames

A man tasked with fighting the flames has been accused of fanning them instead when authorities charged a Florida firefighter with setting a fire at his own house to collect insurance.

According to online news site ClickOrlando.com, a Brevard County firefighter has been arrested for allegedly attempting to burn down his house Sept. 3, 2019, as Hurricane Dorian was making landfall in that part of the state.

The firefighter, Don Slayman, told investigators he plugged in his golf cart in the garage next to some gasoline he was storing for a family member and then noticed smoke. However, when he was interviewed months later, he said he was adding gas to a generator and “there was a flash and fire went everywhere,” ClickOrlando said.

His wife filed an insurance claim for more than $430,000 in home value, though the residence was only appraised at $280,000.

He was arrested Friday and faces charges of arson of a dwelling and burning to defraud.