Firefighters from across the region are speaking out after hearing word of what happened in Robeson County where 10 volunteer firefighters were charged with arson related crimes on Tuesday.
“It’s people like that, that put a black eye on the people like us, the volunteers that have a good intentions,” said Tom Zimpleman, a volunteer lieutenant for the Surfside Fire Department.
Lt. Zimpleman is also a full time fire marshal for the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire Department. He started fighting fires when he was 19 years old.
“We’re here to help the community not be detrimental to the community,” Zimpleman said. “I have seen many cases where there are volunteers that get into something like that, starting fires, I don’t know if it’s an excitement thing for them they want to go put that fire out.”
Even after hours of screenings and training, it can be difficult for departments to detect someone’s true intentions.
“All the guys are together hanging out and someone gets an idea to do something like that, it spreads among the group,” Zimpleman said. “You can only look into someone’s background, I can do something, the day after I get my background check done and you’ll never know about it.”