Firefighter charged with arson

Lafayette, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette firefighter faces five criminal charges, including arson, after a firefighers responded to a fire at his home on Oct. 17, 2008.

Eric Tendam, 40, was arrested on the scene of the fire but was not formally charged until Feb. 20.

Tendam is charged with two counts of arson, obstructing or interfering with a firefighter, criminal mischief and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

State Police say Tendam tried to pull hoses out of the firefighters' hands and threw one firefighter's helmet into the blaze. At least 15 firefighters from Battle Ground and Wabash Township responded. They had the fire out in about 40 minutes, though one firefighter was slightly injured when he stumbled into a hot tub amid zero-visibility smoke inside the house.

The Lafayette Fire Department will hold a special meeting next week to discuss possible discipline.
Tendam has been with the department since 1996.