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Police: Long Island Volunteer Firefighter Charged With Arson

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island volunteer firefighter faces an arson charge in connection with a fire at a historic house last year.

Christopher Zaino, 20, of Bayville was arrested Thursday and charged with third-degree arson in the Oyster Bay fire, police said.

Police: Long Island Volunteer Firefighter Charged With Arson

The vacant Mill Pond House, owned by the Town of Oyster Bay, was nearly destroyed by two fires last March, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.

Nassau Supervising Fire Marshal James Hickman said Zaino is charged with setting the second fire that heavily damaged the 335-year-old house on March 22, 2014, Rivera reported. Court papers indicate that gasoline was used.

Zaino was a volunteer firefighter with the Bayville Fire Department at the time, police said.

"The fact that he's a volunteer firefighter just compounds the nature of the crime," Hickman said.

As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, authorities are looking into the second fire set at the location just days before.

Hickman said Zaino is not charged in that case.

The head of the Oyster Bay Historical Society, Philip Blocklyn, is relieved a suspect is in custody.

"It has been 10 months and, you know, you always want justice to be done," Blocklyn said, adding that despite the fires, the house can still be restored and preserved.

Zaino expressed his regrets in an admission to police.

"I'm an idiot for what I did. It goes against everything I stand for," he said, "I'm sorry for everything."

Zaino's attorney Charles McQuair said the allegations were not typical of his client.

"He's a nice young man and he comes from a good family. The allegations here are out of character." McQuair said.

The colonial, built by early settlers, is a historical treasure.

"It's upsetting. We don't want houses burned down and history lost. Very disappointing," Oyster Bay Historical Society Director, Philip Blocklyn.

Zaino claims the fire was an accident. In his statement he said he entered the house, and set papers on fire to see in the dark.

"I noticed the paper was now burning close to my hand, so I dropped it to the floor, and couldn't stomp it out," he said.

Police say he used gasoline.

Zaino was arraigned Friday and is free on $7,500 bail.

A defense attorney said Zaino has no criminal history and is a respectable young man.

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