United States (Wisconsin) - An Augusta volunteer firefighter thought he had a sure-fire way to make some extra cash. He convinced an Osseo teen to start three outdoor fires earlier this month so he could earn $8 an hour fighting the blazes.

But the scam backfired after authorities discovered it. On Monday, Joseph E. Thalacker, 29, 607 W. Buckman St., Augusta, was charged in Eau Claire County Court with four felonies: two counts each of arson of property other than building and misconduct in office.

Shawn D. Yule, 18, E18760 Town Line Road, rural Osseo, was charged with two felony counts of arson of property other than a building and a misdemeanor count of negligent handling of burning material, for assisting Thalacker, who was a member of the Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Department.

Thalacker was dismissed from the Fire Department last week, Chief Ken Zich said.

"You never want to see this, ever," Zich said. "Firefighters, as a whole, are brothers and sisters. The misuse of trust is very, very disappointing. It's unthinkable. I'm pretty shocked and at a loss."

Firefighters put their lives at risk every time they respond to a fire, Zich said. He recalled the April 18, 1994, death of Augusta-Bridge Creek firefighter Robert Waskiewicz, 31, who received third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body after being overcome by a grass fire 15 days earlier, on Easter Sunday.

Ironically, Zich said, Waskiewicz was injured fighting a fire on Dolotta Road. One of the fires leading to one of the arson charges against Thalacker and Yule was on that same rural road, between Augusta and Osseo.

"We've just got a wonderful group," Zich said of the firefighters in his department. "Everybody's disappointed and shocked, but we'll carry on."

Thalacker now is unemployed, while Yule is a student at Osseo-Fairchild High School. Judge Paul Lenz set $5,000 signature bonds for both men.

As conditions of bond, Thalacker cannot have contact with the Augusta-Bridge Creek Fire Department or possess accelerants other than gasoline for his vehicle. Yule cannot possess fireworks or gasoline, except for vehicles or lawn mowers.

Thalacker and Yule both return to court June 8.

According to the criminal complaint:

Zich told the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department his firefighters responded to three suspicious fires this month: an April 13 grass fire at E19595 Dolotta Road in the town of Bridge Creek; an April 18 grass fire in a ditch at Highway G and Gerike Road in the town of Bridge Creek; and an April 21 fire in a pine plantation on Jack Pine Road in the town of Bridge Creek.

Yule told deputies he started the fire on Dolotta Road after pouring gasoline on a tree. He then reported the fire to authorities.

Yule said he started the fire at Gerike Road by using a roman candle, a type of firework. The Jack Pine Road fire, he said, was started by a torch using gasoline and lamp oil.

In each instance, Yule said, he was with Thalacker and a third man.

When asked why he started the fires, Yule said Thalacker wanted to make extra money by responding to the fires.

The third man, who was not charged, told deputies Thalacker was the "getaway driver" after the fires were started.

The third man and Thalacker both told authorities the fires were started so Thalacker could make money by responding to the fires with the Fire Department.

If convicted of all the charges, Thalacker could be sentenced to six years in prison, and Yule could get three years.

Written by Leader-Telegram