SOUDERTON, PA – A Montgomery County volunteer firefighter has been arrested after investigators revealed he intentionally set three fires within a 30-hour span—including one near his former boss’s home—and then helped fight the blazes.
The Serial Arson Spree
Justin Sholly, 29, of Souderton, faces multiple charges including arson, reckless burning, criminal trespass, and recklessly endangering another person.
The investigation, led by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, tied Sholly to three separate incidents between May 29 and May 30:
- May 29 (12:25 a.m.): A pile of wood logs was set ablaze near Forman and Schoolhouse roads in Franconia Township.
- May 29 (4:17 a.m.): A fire tore through a detached garage and barn on Lumber Street in Souderton, just 50 feet away from two homes containing 10 sleeping residents.
- May 30 (4:31 a.m.): A massive structure fire destroyed a barn, three vehicles, a shed, an outhouse, and a gazebo near Harleysville Pike, where eight people were inside a nearby home.
Astonishingly, Sholly admitted to rushing back to his station, the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company, to respond to two of these scenes alongside his fellow firefighters.
License Plate Readers Track Suspect
Detectives cracked the case using local automated license plate reader (ALPR) databases. Sholly’s black 2015 Ford Edge was flagged traveling near all three fire locations precisely around the times the blazes broke out.
Surveillance footage also captured Sholly driving his vehicle into the fire station parking lot on May 30, just minutes before the alarms sounded for the Franconia Township structure fire.
Targeting a Former Employer
During an interview with detectives on May 31, Sholly confessed to starting all three fires. He revealed a personal motive for the second blaze, noting that his former boss, who had fired him in 2025, lived on the block immediately adjacent to the targeted Souderton garage.
A subsequent search of Sholly’s home and vehicle uncovered damning evidence, including:
- Lighter fluid and a BIC lighter
- Fire starter logs and wood blocks
- A Motorola fire department radio
Current Legal Status
Sholly was arrested on May 31 and transported to the Pennsylvania State Police Skippack barracks. He is currently being held in Montgomery County Prison after failing to post bail. His preliminary hearing is officially scheduled for June 10, 2026.
