Lee Landor

[Note: This article and its accompanying photos originally appeared on LIHerald.com on Aug. 10, 2010. This content is the rightful property of Richner Communications, Inc.]

They were really playing with fire.

Two 14-year-old teens who were charged with starting a fire on Monday that damaged a West Hempstead elementary school set papers on fire and then threw an aerosol can into the blaze to see what would happen, police said.

They saw what happened shortly thereafter — and it was a sight that is likely burned into their memories: The can ruptured, causing flames to engulf a temporary building attached to the George Washington Elementary School.

Police charged the pair with fourth-degree arson, a felony, but would not identify them because of their age. They were charged as juveniles, according to Det. Lt. Kevin Power, commanding officer of the arson and bomb investigation squad.

While at the scene of the 8:35 p.m. blaze, West Hempstead school district Superintendent John Hogan suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized, according to reports. He was still in the hospital on Thursday.

According to Power, the boys were playing with a cigarette lighter and setting fire to pieces of paper on a concrete patio near the annex, which housed three first-grade classrooms. Then they threw the aerosol can into the fire and it blew up, alerting neighbors who reported hearing an explosion and seeing people running from the school.

With the help of residents and witnesses, arson investigators identified the boys as local kids, and arrested and charged them Tuesday night.
When asked whether this was the result of ignorance about fire safety, Power said it appeared to be a case of curiosity. “It was ‘Let’s see what happens when we place [the aerosol can] in fire,'” he said.

“Education is always good,” Power continued. “And the fire service, the Nassau County Fire Marshal, does do school education programs throughout the school year, so people do hear about the dangers of fire and what can happen. So those programs are out there, but it’s still not going to take an interest away from a child or person if their mindset is to do it.”

The teens were released on Family Court appearance tickets and are scheduled to face juvenile delinquency charges later this month, Power said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, school officials reported that fire remediation specialists monitored by an independent environmental engineering firm began a “complete top-to-bottom cleaning” of the school building. Deputy Superintendent Richard Cunningham, who has taken over all the superintendent’s responsibilities, said he expects the work to be complete in a week’s time.

“While there is extensive damage to the schools ‘portable’ classrooms, the rest of the building was not affected and will be ready for the start of the school year,” Cunningham said. “We are confident that we can accommodate all students scheduled to attend the school without affecting class size.”

Classes at the William Street school will begin as scheduled on Sept. 7.