Oklahoma Firefighter Charged With More Than 50 Counts Of Arson

NewsOn6.com

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – A Wildland firefighter accused of setting as many as 60 fires in Cherokee County has been charged.

Court records show Mike Malenski, 38, is charged with 41 counts of third degree arson and 15 counts of fourth degree arson.

Jack Thorp, Cherokee County Assistant District Attorney, said Malenski would set the fires, report them, and then go fight the fires.

Prosecutors say he may have been hooked on the adrenaline of putting them out.

Malenski is on administrative leave.

5/17/2011 Related Story: Oklahoma Forestry Services Firefighter Accused Of Setting Dozens Of Fires