'Mind-boggling': Firefighter charged after responding to house fire in another county, reports say
A Nashville firefighter was charged with reckless endangerment after he reportedly tried to fight a fire while off-duty outside his jurisdiction.
Local outlets reported that Rutherford County Fire and Rescue had already responded to a fire at a home in Rutherford County around 6 p.m. on Dec. 18, when Nashville firefighter Jacob Welbaum approached to help.
Citing an arrest affidavit, WKRN reported that Rutherford County firefighters asked Welbaum to step away but instead he unlawfully took protective gear and breathing equipment from a Rutherford County fire engine.
Welbaum then entered the home, which was ablaze, and began shouting orders at firefighters on the scene, WKRC reported.
He had to be physically removed from the scene. He's been charged with five counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct, WKRN reported. His bond was set at $10,500.
Rutherford County Fire Marshal Joshua Sanders said in a statement that the case is no longer under investigation as it awaits adjudication. The Nashville Fire Department did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Home owners call incident 'mind boggling'
The owners of the home told WSMV that they weren't home when the fire began. Christina Williams told the outlet that passersby saw the smoke and called her and her husband since their phone number was on their door.
They called the fire department, and Williams said her husband rushed to the home, but when her arrived, he not only found his home in flames, but a bizarre scene of a "plainclothes man yelling quite aggressively at firemen."
“It’s just a mind-boggling situation,” Williams said.
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She said the fire caused thousands of dollars worth of damage and she wonder's if Welbaums interference could have interfered with firefighters response and resulted in more damage.
“It’s very worrisome, and to think of could they have done their job quicker? What was he doing inside our home? Why did they have to remove him from our home? It’s very bothersome,” Williams said.
Welbaum is still employed with the Nashville Fire Department but is not working with the public, WKRN reported.
The firefighter was set for a court appearance on Jan. 24, WTVF reported.