By Mary Malloy
The Valley Stream man arrested is a member of the lodge.
According to Steve Grogan, spokesperson for the Lynbrook Fire Department, heavy smoke was coming out of the broken glass door at the front of the building as the firefighters pulled up to the scene. "The chief [Keith Festa] broadcast a Signal 10 for a working fire to all responding Lynbrook fire units," said Grogan.
Forty firefighters from the Lynbrook Fire department responded. Hose in hand, the firefighters crawled under the heavy smoke down a long narrow hallway to get at the fire in the rear of the building.
During the height of the firefighting effort, Festa requested a "Fast Team" from the Valley Stream Fire Department, which sent a ladder truck and an ambulance to the fire. Rockville Centre Fire Department also sent a ladder. East Rockaway Fire Department sent an engine and an ambulance to stand-by at Vulcan Company to handle any additional alarms in Lynbrook while the Malverne Fire Department also sent a ladder to stand-by.
It took approximately 30 minutes for the firefighters to put out the blaze.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office and the Arson and Bomb Squad of Nassau County Police Department were called in after it was determined that the fire was of a suspicious nature. "The front door glass was broken and had not been caused by the fire," said Grogan. "Samples of a possible accelerant were taken from the fire scene after a dog trained to sniff out accelerants found suspicious flammable substances in and around the fire area."
According to the police department, Capone broke into the building in order to take a small amount of money that was stored in the lodge. After taking the money he then set the fire in order to cover up the burglary.
"[Capone] was one of two people who were the last to leave the building after a meeting there earlier," said Detective Michael Barlett of the Arson/Bomb Squad. "We questioned a guy who said he had locked up, and he did say that Capone was with him." According to Barlett, 25 members were due to return at 7 p.m. to carpool to a funeral. "The treasurer of the Sons of Italy came back at about 6:45 p.m. and noticed the fire."
There were no reported injuries. Capone has been charged with one count of Burglary 3rd degree and one count of Arson 3rd degree and was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstaed on Nov. 3.
The unoccuied lodge sustained several thousand dollars in damages.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
