Louis Distefano, of Franklin Square, charged after garage fire sets off fireworks, causes explosions in neighborhood

A Franklin Square man faces charges after fireworks stored in his garage were ignited, causing a wide-ranging fire among three neighboring homes on Tuesday.

At 2:45 p.m., officers responded to a Morton Avenue home and found the garage engulfed in flames.

The fire then spread to the fence of one neighboring home and the garage of another.

During the fire, fireworks in the Morton Avenue home ignited, causing the rear garage and fence of a third residence across the street, a Hewlett Street home, to catch fire, Nassau police said.

Flames also entered the living room of the Morton Avenue home and landed on a couch, starting a fire within the home, officials said.

Louis Distefano, 57, was charged with unlawful storage of explosives and unlawful possession of explosives-without licenses and certificates, police said.

The Franklin Square Fire Department, Arson Bomb Squad, Nassau County Fire Marshall and Town of Hempstead Building Department responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported, police said.

Distefano pleaded not guilty Wednesday at his arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead. He was released on bail with non-monetary conditions, according to court records.

He is scheduled to return to court Monday.