Man Sets Fire To Canarsie Home After Fight With Housemates: FDNY

CANARSIE, BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn man set fire to his former home in attempt to murder the 16 people who used to be his housemates, according to the FDNY.

Sean Figaro, 37, was arrested after he doused the three-story house at 622 E. 80th S. with gasoline at about 2:20 a.m. Monday, after a fight with the people who lived there, said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro in a statement.

“Setting a fire at the entrance of home, in the dead of night, trapping 16 people, is a heinous act which could have easily resulted in a major loss of life,” said Commissioner Nigro. “A dangerous individual whose callous actions nearly took many lives has quickly been apprehended.”

Investigators found surveillance footage of Figaro walking away from a nearby gas station with a red canister then running from the East 80th Street house after it explodes in flames, said the FDNY.

Suddenly, 16 people found themselves unable to escape as the fire consumed the furniture and spread up from the first floor, FDNY officials said.

But firefighters who rushed to the burning building helped the occupants escape, and no lives were lost, said the FDNY.

FDNY officials launched an investigation when fire marshalls discovered someone had used a flammable liquid to accelerate the fire.

Figaro was arrested Thursday and charged with attempted murder, arson, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief in the second degree, said the FDNY.

His case will be prosecuted in Brooklyn Criminal Court.

Photos and video courtesy of the FDNY