Firefighters Won’t be Charged with Arson, Conspiracy

A district judge in Pennsylvania has dropped arson and other charges against two firefighters and a local businessman. The judge stated that he felt there was insufficient evidence to prove their actions put the public in serious danger of asbestos exposure.

The three defendants were accused of allowing a house that contained asbestos to be used for a fire training exercise by the McDonald, PA Volunteer Fire Department last year.

When released into the air, asbestos can drift onto neighboring properties. If inhaled, the asbestos fibers can work their way into the soft tissues of the heart, lungs, or abdominal cavity. In some cases, asbestos exposure leads to mesothelioma.

District Judge Jay Weller dismissed arson, conspiracy and risking a catastrophe charges against Mark Slack and Dale Csonka after a 6 hour preliminary hearing. Judge Weller also dismissed the same charges against Thomas Krenn, but did not dismiss the charges of unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with public records.

Judge Weller said that the office of the state attorney general has provided sufficient evidence to show that Krenn may have forged state Department of Environmental Protection burn permits.

Both Krenn and Slack were assistant chiefs with the McDonald fire department, but both men have since been placed on leave. In general, firefighters are considered to be among those at an increased risk of developing an asbestos disease, such as pleural mesothelioma, due to the fact that they are likely to come into contact with the substance while on the job.

The state attorney general’s office accused the three defendants of burning down the asbestos-filled house over a year ago in March, 2008. The burn was part of a training exercise.

Judge Weller stated that although there was asbestos in the air, he did not believe there was sufficient proof that the toxic asbestos was launched into the air. Weller said that if any asbestos had become airborne, the level of exposure would not have been a “major” catastrophe.