A Long Island dad is facing charges after he was accused of causing two houses to catch on fire when he allegedly instructed his 11-year-old son to light off a firework.
Accidents involving fireworks are a common hazard of Independence Day celebrations, and this year was no exception. A notable incident that occurred in the morning on July 4 took place on a residential street in Levittown, New York.
According to reports, an 11-year-old boy was hanging out with his father outside of their home. His dad had fireworks with him and reportedly gave one to his son and let him light it off. The child sparked the wick, but the firework malfunctioned and struck a nearby shed. The shed caught on fire, and the flames spread to their home, forcing the tenant who rents a room to vacate her space and run outside. The house next door also caught on fire, but the neighbors were not at home when the incident occurred.
The authorities were alerted, and officers from the Nassau County Police Department in addition to firefighters from the Wantagh Fire Department rushed to the location. The firefighters worked quickly to get the fires under control, but enough damage was done to render both homes inhabitable. No one was physically harmed during the incident.
When the police investigated the situation, they found that fireworks were the cause of the fires, and they learned that the man had given his child permission to set them off.
The man was taken into custody on suspicion of several charges including two counts of fourth-degree arson, second-degree reckless endangerment, unlawfully selling fireworks to a person under 18, unlawful possession of fireworks, and endangering the welfare of a child.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.