Medford volunteer firefighter charged with arson for setting brush fire

A Medford volunteer firefighter was charged with arson after he allegedly sparked both a brush and vehicle fire in the community Tuesday as the region remains under a moderate drought watch and a red flag warning, Suffolk County police and prosecutors said.

Jonathan Quiles, 20, of Meyer Lane, lit cotton balls and kicked them under a vehicle parked on Maple Street in Medford shortly after 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, prosecutors said. Less than 15 minutes later, he released more lit cotton balls in a wooded area behind homes on nearby Mount Vernon Avenue, sparking a brush fire, prosecutors said.

"While fighting fires poses dangerous to firefighters and other first responders, this brush fire was close to a residential area and threatened the lives and property of countless people," acting Suffolk County Police Commissioner Robert Waring said at a news conference Wednesday.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said investigators are looking into the possibility that Quiles may have been responsible for other recent brush fires in the Medford area.

"The Assigned ADA just provided me with a map with regard to the area of all those brush fires, so that's something we're going to continue to look at," Tierney said.

Police and prosecutors said video surveillance footage showed Quiles in the area. Tierney said law enforcement has not yet discovered any video that shows him actually lighting the fires.

Authorities did not provide a motive for Quiles' alleged crimes.

In a statement, the Medford Fire District said it runs arson background checks before admitting members.

"There was no knowledge to suspect that this individual may have had any inclination to intentionally set fires," read the statement from Medford Fire District Chairman Craig Cowell. "At this time this individual is suspended and if convicted, will be terminated from the Medford Fire Department."

Quiles pleaded not guilty to arson and reckless endangerment charges at an arraignment before Judge Bernard Cheng in Central Islip on Wednesday afternoon. Cheng ordered Quiles be subject to GPS monitoring by the Suffolk County Probation Department as he awaits trial. Tierney said prosecutors would have sought monetary bail conditions but could not under New York State law.

Defense attorney Anthony La Pinta described Quiles as a "good-natured, nonviolent person" who joined the volunteer fire department with the ultimate goal of becoming an EMT. La Pinta said his client, who lives at home with his adoptive mother, has no arrest history, but has worked though mental health challenges in the past.

"His mother adores him and loves him, and the family, quite frankly, is scared to death, and he's scared to death," La Pinta said of Quiles, who attended Patchogue-Medford High School. "He's a good kid who has some psychological issues."

U.S. Drought Monitor, which reports on drought conditions throughout the country, has designated Long Island a moderate drought region following consecutive months of record-low rain. The National Weather Service has also designated the region as being under a red flag warning, meaning there is an elevated risk of rapid fire spread. Residents have been asked by Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services to avoid lighting any outdoor fires including in designated firepits.

FRES commissioner Rudy Sunderman said Suffolk County has responded to 183 brush fires in the last 30 days.

With Tara Smith and Shari Einhorn

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.