New Hampshire Firefighter Admits to Setting Fires

A 22-year veteran of a New Hampshire Fire Department has been charged with setting fire.

Officials say Stark Liedtke faces charges in connection with four fires but confessed to setting 11 blazes in Alton and New Durham since 2006. Most of the fires were in abandoned buildings.

Authorities became suspicious when they found Liedtke on Friday night in an area where a prowler had been reported and smelled gasoline on him. An arson dog found two bottles of gasoline stashed in the woods nearby.

Liedtke was ordered held on $30,000 bail during a hearing Monday in Laconia District Court.

Defense attorney John Bresaw cited Liedtke’s cooperation in arguing for lower bail.

Liedtke has been fired from the Alton Fire Department.