A New York man was arrested by an arson bomb squad for giving his 11-year-old son a firework that ignited two houses, authorities said. According to a press release from the Nassau County Police Department, officers responded around 8:50 a.m. on the 4th of July to reports of a house fire in Levittown, New York.
Police found that the 33-year-old father gave his son a firework and told him to light it. The firework malfunctioned, soared into a nearby shed, and caused a fire that spread to the defendant’s home and a neighbor’s house.
A single mother renting part of the first home had to flee from the burning blaze. The Wantagh Fire Department extinguished the fires, but both homes suffered extensive damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The Nassau County Arson Bomb Squad arrested Karamjit Singh without incident. Singh was charged with second-degree arson, fourth-degree reckless endangerment, unlawfully selling fireworks to a minor, unlawfully possessing fireworks, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was released from jail without bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment. Singh’s son was released to a family member.
Nassau County Fire Marshals are investigating the fireworks accident.
In nearby Suffolk County, a 21-year-old man reportedly severed three fingers, damaged two others, and suffered leg burns in a July 4th fireworks accident. Additionally, a 66-year-old Long Island man from Brentwood lost a hand and several fingers after a fireworks explosion on Saturday night, according to WNBC.
