Boy, 11, charged in Hicksville home arson

An 11-year-old boy in Hicksville was arrested and charged with arson after he sparked a small fire that soon engulfed a home, Nassau County police said.

The fire at 1:40 p.m. Saturday on East John Street displaced 12 residents from the house, police said. About 150 firefighters from five departments responded to the blaze, which was not at the boy's home, police said.

The boy was charged with fourth-degree arson, released to his mother and told to show up at Family Court in Westbury on June 17.

According to police, the boy used a lighter to ignite plastic packing material. He ran away and the fire spread to the garage, then to the house, police said.

Three firefighters had minor injuries.

American Red Cross Metro New York assisted. The agency "provided temporary shelter in a motel and funds for food and clothing for 10 adults and two children," said Sam Kille, a spokesman for the Red Cross.

With Patrick Whittle and Michael Amon

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