The five men charged in connection with a series of arson fires in the Mon Valley targeted 10 vacant buildings over a one- year period, authorities said at a news conference yesterday.

The five suspects, including two firefighters, two auxiliary police officers and another man, were arrested Monday.

The are charged with setting fire to 10 vacant buildings in Glassport, McKeesport, Clairton, Lincoln and Duquesne between January 2003 and January 2004, authorities said at a news conference at Allegheny County police headquarters.

County police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said the two accused firefighters are Justin Danko, 20, of Glassport, who volunteered for Glassport and Clairton; and William Haberjak, 21, of Port Vue, who volunteered in Glassport, Clairton and Duquesne.

Haberjak is a former Glassport fire lieutenant. He resigned in March to be with his girlfriend and children, according to Glassport Fire Chief Wayne Lewis.

Also accused were two auxiliary police officers in Glassport, Edward Emerick, 19, of McKeesport, and Steve Lloyd, 21, of Trafford.

The fifth man charged was Edward George Warman, 20, of McKeesport, a relative of Emerick.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday before District Justice Thomas S. Brletic of McKeesport.

Brletic said the cases were consolidated and ordered to his court because the investigation began in McKeesport, many of the fires were in that city and a firefighter was seriously injured while fighting one of the fires there.

Each of the suspects faces a multitude of charges, including arson, criminal conspiracy and reckless endangerment.

In some instances, police said, the suspects drove around scouting for structures to torch. The accelerants they used varied from gasoline to a towel soaked in aerosol.

Haberjak was charged earlier this month with setting a trash bin on fire in Glassport. Court documents indicated that he said he used fireworks to start a fire in a bin behind a store.

Lewis said other Glassport firefighters feel "betrayed and victimized" by the alleged actions of Danko and Haberjak.

"It's hard to swallow," he said. "There have been many hours spent on this investigation. We are moving forward. We will get through this."

First Published: July 28, 2004, 4:00 a.m.