An East Helena man who started wildfires that caused nearly $1 million in damage to bolster his work as firefighter received a 40-year suspended sentence in district court Monday. Frederick J. Maw was 18 years old when authorities arrested him for sparking 20 fires in May 2013. Included in his sentence is that Maw cannot participate in any firefighting efforts. As part of a plea agreement, Maw entered Alford pleas to two felony charges of arson in December 2013. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction. Maw received a 20-year suspended sentence to Montana State Prison for each charge -- one in Lewis and Clark County and the other in Broadwater County -- to run consecutively. The sentencing requires Maw to continue mental health treatment. Prosecutors said the nearly two-year delay in Monday's hearing was because of ongoing mental health evaluations conducted on Maw and assessment of any potential placement.