Ewing

An 18-year-old Huntingdon County volunteer firefighter is in Huntingdon County Jail on $500,000 cash bail after being accused of setting a series of wildfires this year.

Adam Ewing of Three Springs, member of the Three Springs Volunteer Fire Company, was arrested Thursday by the Bureau of Forestry on 63 felony charges related to the fires, online court documents show. He was arraigned on Thursday evening by Magisterial District Judge Rufus S. Brenneman.

The felony charges include 21 counts each of causing a catastrophe, of risking a catastrophe and of maliciously set/cause a fire to forest.

The fires occurred in February and March.

According to a criminal complaint, a series of wildfires were reported

Feb. 11 in southern Huntingdon County, near Captain Jack’s Road and along Old Tannery Road in Saltillo, WTAJ reported.

Three days later, wildfires broke out near Hamman Road and Sugar Grove Road in Cromwell Township.

Ten fires then were reported Feb. 23 and 24.

Fire crews also responded March 16 to a wildfire burning above Uttley Street in Saltillo. A witness reported seeing Ewing in the area.

Bureau of Forestry investigators found all of the fires were intentionally lit.

Ewing’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 3 in Huntingdon County Central court.