Andrew Bischof, the former Arnold volunteer firefighter charged with arson in connection with four fires in Arnold and New Kensington earlier this month, waived his preliminary hearing Thursday morning before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.
Police accuse Bischof, 21, of setting four houses on fire the weekend of Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in the Arnold and New Kensington area.
Bischof, of Arnold, is being held in the Westmoreland County jail and was denied bond. A formal arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 13 in Judge Scott O. Mears’ Greensburg courtroom.
Bischof’s charges include 27 felony counts, including aggravated arson, risking a catastrophe, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.
Westmoreland County Assistant Public Defender Anthony Ciarlante, who is representing Bischof, was not immediately available for comment.
The state police fire marshal’s unit in Greensburg investigated the fires. The first two were Sept. 30, at 1520 Fourth Ave. in Arnold in the morning and at 1240 Leishman Ave. in New Kensington that night. The third fire was called in at 1:16 p.m. Oct. 1 at 1743 Leishman Ave. in Arnold. Those three homes were abandoned, investigators said.
The fourth fire — reported at 9:39 p.m. Oct. 1 at 1557 Leishman Ave. in Arnold — belonged to a family member of Bischof, authorities said.
Bischof was formerly a member of Arnold Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 and joined the department just days before the fires. Authorities said he fought two of the fires he is accused of starting.
Upon learning of his arrest, department officials said he was immediately suspended from the company.
Arnold fire company spokesman Chris O’Leath attended Thursday’s hearing and watched as Bischof entered the court building with sheriff’s deputies. He said he attended in case bond would have been discussed and was prepared to state the department’s opposition.
“This individual has put the community at risk,” O’Leath said.
One of the buildings in which Bischof is alleged to have started a fire was occupied, authorities have said. A firefighter was injured while responding to one of the house fires.
While understanding all are innocent until proven guilty, the department’s stance is to ensure that justice is served, O’Leath said. If Bischof is found guilty, O’Leath said, justice would be jail time and for him to never be associated with a fire department for the rest of his life.
“The case is pretty damning against him, to be honest with you,” O’Leath said. “… That’s not the type of person we want in the fire department.”
Bischof could be seen on surveillance footage near the fires, before or at the times they were set, authorities said.
Bischof served three years in the Navy, where he achieved the rank of damage control fireman in December 2020. According to the Navy, damage controlmen are critical to preventing accidents and keeping ships and crew members out of harm’s way.
