Long Island volunteer firefighter charged with arson

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- With his face covered and his head down, 20-year-old Christopher Zaino, now charged with felony arson did not want to answer any questions on Friday.

Zaino was a volunteer firefighter in Bayville, one of several departments that initially responded to a fire at the Mill Pond House, a historic home in Oyster Bay dating back to the 1600s. Now, the Mill Pond House is all boarded up. The inside of the home was torched, and prosecutors say it will need to be restored.

"There's a price to pay for this kind of activity - it endangers history , not just people, and it's very upsetting," said Philip Blocklyn of the Oyster Bay Historical Society.

According to the complaint, Zaino used gasoline to set the house on fire. The complaint also mentions witnesses, video evidence and a written confession. However in court on Friday, Zaino pleaded not guilty.

"From what I understand, this is a fine young man who comes from a good family, and this is his first incident with the criminal justice system," said Defense Attorney Charles McQuair.

Residents in Oyster Bay are left baffled.

"It is upsetting to have a local fire person involved in something like that - it's a landmark structure," says Rich Hutchinson.

"I guess just why - I don't know, that's really a big shock to hear," adds Candice Kuhns.

Zaino's mother was at court to bail him out, but was yielding no answers either as he left.