This is not good timing for the Fire Department. Yesterday, two police officers noticed a fire in a West Farms house and saved its seven residents. Then, noticing that the house next door was on fire, the two cops evacuated five more people. One of the officers, Chris Scott, said that the the FDNY showed up during the second fire, and the residents lauded their efforts. Judy Ramdeen said, "They rushed into a burning building and made sure everybody had gotten out. They went that little extra mile to make sure everyone was out and OK. So I thank them."
In the meantime, it turns out that a fire at the Engine 34/Ladder 21 firehouse on West 38th Street was actually started by two firefighters. A surveillance camera captured Michael Izzo and Richard Capece "igniting the garage door...after splashing it with gasoline." The fire was put out by an Engine 34 firefighters; the pair do not work at that firehouse.
The pair were charged with arson, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. Izzo's lawyer said, "On paper, this appears far more serious than it was," but Fire Commissioner Scoppetta called the incident "an outrageous, depraved act that should be prosecuted to the full extent under the law." Izzo and Capece have been suspended without pay and are in danger of losing their jobs. They are being held on $20,000 bail.
