http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/03-06-McDonald-Fire
The state attorney general's office charged two McDonald firefighters and another man with conspiring to burn down a house for fire training purposes despite knowing it contained asbestos.
The charges were filed against the three men Feb. 20 following a yearlong investigation into why a controlled burn was allowed at 118 W. Lincoln Ave. in McDonald.
State investigators arrested Thomas Krenn, a 30-year veteran and assistant chief of McDonald Volunteer Fire Department, Mark Slack, a 20-year member and first assistant chief, and Dale Csonka, a local businessman. Richard Bosco, a special agent for the state attorney general's office, filed the charges through District Judge Valarie Costanzo's office, and all three men were released on $20,000 unsecured bond.
Brant T. Miller, a lawyer who represents the fire department, said Krenn and Slack were placed on administrative leave following the charges.
"The alleged criminal activity did not occur while serving in their roles as volunteer firemen," Miller said. "Tom Krenn and Mark Slack are both highly experienced and qualified and have shown exemplary and dedicated community service to both the Borough of McDonald and the fire department."
According to the criminal affidavit, Csonka owned the house on West Lincoln Avenue and approached McDonald fire Chief Doug Cooper about using it for training purposes. Cooper forwarded the request to Krenn and Slack, who is also an assistant general manager for Specialized Professional Services Inc. of Washington, and tasked them with testing the structure to find if it contained hazardous materials.
Slack asked Adam Lohr, a colleague at SPSI, to take samples at the house so it could be approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The results showed the building had a material that contained asbestos.
After receiving the results in December 2007, Krenn, Slack and Csonka met and discussed retesting the home and agreed not to use samples from the exterior or siding, according to the criminal affidavit. Krenn and Slack allegedly instructed Lohr not to use the building's exterior or siding when he took a second sample in January 2008.
The affidavit claims Krenn submitted a DEP burn permit application that made no mention of asbestos. The following month, the DEP and state fire academy granted permission to proceed with the March 29 controlled burn of the house.
Cooper, several McDonald firefighters, Peters Township firefighter Noel McMullen and numerous residents witnessed the burning without knowing about the asbestos. Bosco wrote in the affidavit that "the fire produced clouds of smoke and ash debris that covered the surrounding area."
Two days later, the DEP's emergency response team came to the house following reports of toxic smoke and collected samples from the rubble. The DEP tested the material and returned positive results for asbestos.
The attorney general's office reviewed the DEP permit application and found inconsistencies. The DEP later told investigators it would not have granted the permit had it known about the problems with the application, the affidavit said.
Krenn, of 139 Arabella St., McDonald, was charged with arson, causing or risking a catastrophe, tampering with public records, unlawful conduct and two counts each of conspiracy and unsworn falsification to authorities.
Slack, of 1212 Reissing Road, Cecil Township, and Csonka, of 1009 Spring St., Robinson Township, both face charges of arson, causing or risking catastrophe, unlawful conduct and two counts of criminal conspiracy.
Krenn, Slack and Csonka could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The preliminary hearing for the three men is scheduled with Costanzo for 1:30 p.m. March 19.
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