A year ago, the Fire Department was trying to put out the massive ten-alarm blaze at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse. It took a day and a half for the FDNY to control the fire. A homeless man, Leszek Kuczera, apparently started the blaze while trying to burn insulation off copper wire, only for him to get off with a plea agreement. more ›

Remember the big fire in May that burned down the Greenpoint Terminal Market? Leszek Kuczera, the only person charged with setting the fire, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors yesterday that will keep him out of jail. In the agreement Mr. Kuczera, a homeless alcoholic, pled o contest to burglary and criminal mischief charges. He will spend about eight months in an upstate alcohol treatment center and then serve three years' probation. The Post quotes Justice Abraham Gerges as saying "The defendant does need whatever support he can get." more ›

In June, it was determined the massive Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse fire in May had been set by homeless men looking for copper wire to sell, and Polish immigrant Leszek Kuczera was charged with arson. Though there had been some questions about whether Kuczera was involved, his case is being heard in court. The NY Times reports that deals have been discussed and, more unusually, the judge in the case took time to speak with the 59 year old defendant:

State Supreme Court in Brooklyn is no place to look for sympathy, but Mr. Kuczera has found it there. At a hearing yesterday, the judge overseeing his case conducted a long, private conference with the lawyers, then left the bench in full dress robes, walked across the courtroom and sat beside Mr. Kuczera at the defense table. more ›

After last week's claim from an upstate man who said Greenpoint warehouse fire suspect Leszek Kuczera was working for him during the incident, and therefore couldn't have started the 10 alarm blaze, Kuczera himself is coming around to this story. In a few interviews, the Polish immigrant maintained his innocence, saying he was hungover during the interrogation and thought the police were interested in him giving details about the warehouses. Kuczera says that he told the police he reported a 2005 fire caused by other immigrants burning insulation off metal, and that's what confused the police into thinking he confessed about May's devastating fire. The police maintain that Kuczera is one of two firestarters - the Daily News reports that two NYPD interpreters (one Polish born and raised) were present when Kuczera signed his confession. more ›

Aw, the Daily News has a feature on - and photograph of - a tabby cat who survived last month's Greenpoint warehouse fire. Smokey, a male cat who suffered "burns and lost the tips of his ears and whiskers," is currently at BARC Shelter in Williamsburg. He was found by a volunteer in her Noble Street backyard in mid-May, and BARC's vet Dr. Elaine Felton says, "He looked worse than he really was. He looked terrible." Smokey looks so sweet - we hope he finds a loving owner to take him home. More: You can see how far Smokey has progressed, as BARC's blog had photos of the kitty on May 22 and May 25 (warning - it's heartbreaking because he looks bad, but it's great to see him looking good now). more ›

Developer Joshua Guttman and his son Jack were are being arraigned on 434 counts of negligence regarding the upkeep of the now-destroyed Greenpoint Terminal Market, as investigators continue to search for the second man involved in the massive fire. The Guttmans purchased the abandoned warehouse last year for an eventual commercial-resiedential development, but they "failed to maintain" the waterfront property. more ›

A pair of homeless man have been arrested for starting the fire that caused the NYC's biggest blaze (this side of the World Trade Center). Leszek Kuczera, a 59 year old Polish immigrant, and another as-yet unapprehended homeless man were attempting to burn the insulation off copper wire by setting eight tires on fire, but the fire got out of control. Kuczera was arrested and charged with arson, buglary, reckless endangerment and petty larceny; he told fire marshals he did not mean for the fire to burn down the warehouse. more ›