A Grundy County firefighter was arrested Thursday for allegedly starting fires that he would later respond to with the fire department. In a Facebook post, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office said 60-year-old Kendall Rhoads of Grundy Center, faces a total of 13 counts of second degree arson, and one count of reckless use of a fire or explosives. The investigation began in April after a string of fires, which the sheriff’s office said were mostly ditch fires, with some spreading into nearby corn fields. Other fires happened at buildings on abandoned properties. Sheriff’s officials said Rhoads was a Holland firefighter for the past six years. He would allegedly start fires and then respond with the fire department and help in the effort to put out the fires. He’s being held without bond in the Grundy County Jail.
