Nice little burner? Italian firemen accused of arson

Fifteen volunteer firemen in Sicily are suspected of deliberately starting fires or having friends raise false alarms so they would be called to work and be paid, police said yesterday.

The 15 volunteer firefighters earn €10 (£9) an hour if they are called in.

Antonino Ciavola, a Ragusa police official, said that the fire department’s command centre had tipped off authorities that one squad of off-duty firefighters was getting called out disproportionately.

The alleged ringleader has been arrested.