12°
East Earl Township police on June 25 got an anonymous tip that Jonathan Lynn Yoder, of Narvon, was responsible for starting the April 8 fire, authorities said.
The following day, he admitted to setting fire to the barn on the 200 block of Bridgeville Road around 2:25 a.m., authorities said.
The building contained hay, a 2005 John Deere harvester and a 2004 John Deere tractor. The fire endangered the lives of 115 firefighters from 15 departments, who battled the blaze for nearly six hours.
The cause was investigated by the East Earl Township Police Department with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.
The State Police Fire Marshal determined one of the most likely causes of the fire to be Arson.
Yoder was arrested and transported to Lancaster County Prison, and arraigned the following day by MDJ Brian Chudzik, who set bail at $1 million.
He was charged with arson, criminal conspiracy, burglary, causing or risking a catastrophe and agricultural vandalism, and committed to Lancaster County Prison after he was unable to post bail.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Gettysburg and receive free news updates.
