Aug 17, 2006 By Patty Yauger 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Two men charged with setting fires while members of the South Connellsville Fire Co. will remain free as they await their rescheduled preliminary hearing in the matter. Robert Helms, 22, and his brother, Michael Helms, 27, both of 122 Painter St., were released from Fayette County Prison Tuesday after their father, borough police Chief Mike Helms, posted bond for his sons.

Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty imposed a $100,000 bond for each man last week following their arrest on various arson charges levied by the state Attorney General’s office.

A bail bondsman posted the amount for one man while a property bond submitted by Mike Helms was accepted for the release of his second son.

A preliminary hearing for the two was scheduled for today, but was postponed until Aug. 31 at the request of the county public defender’s office.

The brothers are similarly charged with arson, risking a catastrophe and causing a fire in a wooded area, along with various other offenses in connection with a trio of fires in April 2005. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources assisted in the investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, Robert Helms allegedly admitted to fellow firefighters of “accidentally” setting an April 10, 2005, while he and other fire company members were riding their all-terrain vehicles in the area referred to as Ball Hill.

Approximately one acre of property owned by the Carl, Carol and Rosie Striner family was destroyed during the fire.

Fires set April 15 and 16, 2005, damaged approximately 60 wooded acres owned by Patrick Foley.

Investigators said that it took approximately two days to suppress the separate fires on the Foley property. Approximately five volunteer fire companies, 60 volunteers and aircraft with the capability of dropping large amounts of water were dispatched to the scene.

During a Dec. 13 interview, Michael Helms allegedly told investigators that he intentionally set the April 15 fire.

Fellow firefighters told investigators that Robert Helms allegedly admitted to setting the April 16 fire and claimed to “love lighting fires.”

Investigators valued the property damage at $75,000.

During the arraignment, Dennis Dansak, a special agent with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, requested the bond be set at $500,000 for Robert Helms and $350,000 for Michael Helms, but Haggerty reduced the amount to $100,000. The Aug. 31 preliminary hearing will be held at 1 p.m.