Fireworks cause series of explosions and fire; man charged
The incident happened on Morton Avenue on Tuesday.
Mar 20, 2024, 5:34 AM
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A Franklin Square man has pleaded not guilty to possessing illegal fireworks that set off a series of explosions and caused a fire.
Police say Louis Distefano is charged with unlawful storage of explosives and unlawful possession of explosives, without licenses and certificates.
This comes after a garage fire ignited fireworks in a garage on Morton Avenue in Franklin Square on Tuesday.
News 12 has been told the fire spread to the fence of a nearby home and the garage of another.
Police say the fireworks then caused the fire to spread to the fence and garage of a third home.
The fireworks also entered the living room of the home where the garage fire happened, starting a fire in the home.
Neighbors were shocked by the extent of the damage. Chris O’Connell, who lives across the street, said, “Then, all of a sudden, fireworks started going off like crazy and everybody, including the firemen, ran because we didn't know what it was. It was just like many explosions and then a box went up in the air on fire, and my neighbor saw it land in my yard.”
No injuries were reported. The cause of the original fire in the garage is under investigation.
Louis Distefano pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on March 26.
