An Arnold volunteer firefighter lives a door down from one of four houses he is accused of setting on fire this past weekend, and another belongs to a family member, according to state police.

Andrew Joseph Bischof, 21, of Arnold even returned as a firefighter to put out two of the four fires he is accused of starting, police said.

Bischof was immediately suspended from the Arnold No. 2 fire department, spokesman Chris O’Leath said after Bischof’s arrest Wednesday.

Bischof had joined the department Sept. 25, O’Leath said. That was just days before, state police say, he set fires at three buildings in Arnold and one in New Kensington between about 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

“We are appalled to learn that these incidents were likely the actions of someone with whom we placed our trust,” O’Leath said in a statement. “We recognize the level of public trust that the community places with the fire department and we take that trust seriously. We will not tolerate these actions. We will continue to work with local and state law enforcement to ensure justice is served.”

The state police fire marshal unit based in Greensburg investigated all four fires. The fires were intentionally set, and Bischof and a black Ford Escape were seen on surveillance videos at or near each fire before it was discovered, according to the fire marshal’s office.

The first three buildings — 1520 Fourth Ave. in Arnold, 1240 Leishman Ave. in New Kensington and 1743 Leishman Ave. in Arnold — were abandoned with no active utilities, police said.

Bischof lives at 1737 Leishman Ave. in Arnold, separated by a side yard and another home from 1743 Leishman Ave. The fire at 1743 Leishman was reported about 1:15 p.m. Sunday.

State police obtained surveillance video from the area. Before the fire, a man identified as Bischof was seen at the back of the building near an open door. Shortly after, an unidentified member of Bischof’s family reported the fire to 911.

Bischof was seen on video forcing the front door open before leaving the scene, arriving at the fire station and returning as a firefighter, police said.

The house at 1557 Leishman Ave. in Arnold, the location of the fourth and final fire, belonged to a family member, according to police. It also was where an Arnold firefighter, identified as Thomas Cooper, was injured when a rear deck collapsed.

Cooper was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the complaint states. The fire department he belongs to was not identified; multiple departments responded to all of the fires.

The fire was reported about 9:40 p.m. Sunday.

Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke coming from the rear deck, which extended into the structure, a criminal complaint related to the fire states. The investigation found it was started by materials on the deck being set on fire with an open flame.

Bischof was at the residence, secured by a lock and alarm system, before the fire, police said.

Bischof is seen on surveillance video arriving at his residence before the fire department was dispatched, with the brake lights on his vehicle still visible as firefighters were responding to the scene. Bischof then went in the opposite direction of the fire toward the Arnold fire department and responded to the scene in a department vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.

Bischof was denied bond when he was arraigned Wednesday night and sent to the Westmoreland County jail. He is scheduled for four preliminary hearings Thursday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)