Court Sets Arraignment for Firefighter Accused of Setting Fire to Wife's Home

A West View and Ross volunteer firefighter waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday. 

Magisterial District Judge William Wagner set an April 25 formal arraignment for Ronald Towers, 42. 

Towers told Allegheny County Police that on Nov. 3, he turned on a straight iron in a room on the second floor of a two-story house at 89 Georgetown Ave. then set papers around and in the iron, according to the criminal complaint filed in . 

The home belongs to Lori Towers, who was visiting friends in Mercer County when the fire was reported at about 1:30 a.m. The couple had been separated for about a month at the time of the fire. 

According to the complaint, and harm her and her pets. 

Towers faces two felony charges of arson. He was released in November from the Allegheny County Jail on a $50,000 bond. 

Until the charges are resolved, Towers remains on suspension from the , said Fire Chief Brad McLean. 

Towers has also been suspended from the , said Fire Chief George Hollenberger.

Towers has retained Fred Rabner of the Rabner Law Offices as his attorney. Rabner could not be reached immediately for comment. 

Stay tuned to Patch for further updates. 

Pine-Richland Patch Editor Cindy Micco contributed to this article.