A 19-year-old volunteer firefighter and a teenage boy are both accused of setting fire to three homes in Delaware County.
On July 20, around 11 p.m. police and firefighters were called to a house fire on Delmar Drive in Folcroft, Pa, right across the street from the firehouse. When they arrived they found a vacant home in the woods with flames coming through the roof.
Investigators deemed the fire suspicious since the home had been vacant for several years and didn’t have any utilities inside. The fire was later ruled arson.
On August 2, investigators interviewed 19-year-old John Corcoran IV, a volunteer firefighter from Glenolden. During the interview, Corcoran allegedly admitted to helping a 17-year-old Tinicum Township boy set fire to the home. Police say Corcoran was driving the teen around the night of July 20 when they decided to light the Delmar Drive home on fire.
“I won’t get caught, I’m a ninja,” the teen allegedly told Corcoran.
Investigators say Corcoran dropped the teen off at the home and the boy used a lighter to light paper on fire in the bathroom. Corcoran later picked the teen up and the two fled the scene, according to investigators.
Corcoran also allegedly admitted to helping the teen light two other homes on fire back on May 31 and June 5 on Garfield Avenue in the Briarcliff section of Darby Township. Corcoran also later responded to both of those fires and helped put them out, according to investigators.
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Both Corcoran and the teen were arrested and charged with arson.
Corcoran’s bail was set at $250,000 cash. He’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 20.
