Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
A 19-year-old firefighter trainee and college student from Ford Heights has been indicted by a Cook County court on three counts of arson for allegedly setting fires at three vacant homes in the village.
Kaumain Allen was arrested last month after a Cook County sheriff’s deputy, conducting a routine check at a vacant house on 15th Street, found him there. According to police, Allen claimed that the fire department had sent him to retrieve equipment left behind, but authorities confirmed that no such order had been issued, nor had he been authorized to be on the premises.
The sheriff’s office and the state fire marshal have been investigating a series of fires in Ford Heights since October—11 in vacant homes and two involving vehicles. However, they have not yet linked Allen to any other incidents beyond the three he is currently charged with.
He also faces charges for two more fires: one on February 9 and another on March 3. In the February incident, prosecutors allege that Allen entered an abandoned home, poured gasoline on debris near a back wall, and used a lighter to ignite it. On March 3, he reportedly went to another empty house, lit a road flare with a propane torch, and threw it onto a pile of debris, starting a fire that quickly spread.
If convicted, Allen could face between three and seven years in prison for each charge, with the possibility of consecutive sentences for each of the three incidents, according to Campbell.
Ford Heights Fire Department Captain Edward Griffin stated that the department had "never had any issues" with Allen. He joined as a volunteer trainee earlier this year and remained active until his arrest.
As the investigation continues, local residents are expressing concern over the recent string of fires and the involvement of someone who was once seen as a community helper. The case has sparked discussions about how individuals in positions of trust can sometimes act against the public interest. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, while the fire department is reviewing its protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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