Off-Duty Firefighter Arrested for Interfering with House Fire

Memphis, Tn -  There was no answer at William Land's Southaven home when we stopped by. But across the street, a clear message from his neighbors who did not want to talk about the house fire that led to his arrest.

"It's unfortunate all the way around," said Southaven Police Lieutenant, Mark Little.

Land, who is a firefighter for the Memphis Fire Department, is currently out on bond. Police say he was charged when he wouldn't leave his home and let Southaven firefighters do their job over the weekend. Land's accused of interfering with firefighters and disobeying the officers who showed up when investigators believe something in his kitchen caught fire sometime before 4 am Saturday morning.

"He had extinguished the fire for the most part, but there was still a lot of smoke."

According to police, land was upset about the fire department’s response time, and let them know it. They say he wasn't wearing any protective gear, and yet refused to wait outside.

"They kept asking him to leave and he basically told them he wasn't going to leave."

Land, who was relieved of duty with pay Monday morning pending an administrative investigation, works at station #36 on South Third. He's been with the Memphis Fire Department since 2001.

Land isn't the only one in trouble. During the incident Saturday his 14 year-old son was also arrested. Police say the 14 year-old interfered when they took his father into custody.

Land faces charges of disorderly conduct and failing to obey a police officer, obstructing operations on a fire scene and disobeying an officer on the scene of a fire. His son faces a juvenile summons for disorderly conduct and failure to obey officers.