Cops: New Hyde Park man charged with upstate arson

A New Hyde Park man has been arraigned on arson charges after allegedly starting a fire that burned 30 structures and 50 acres of woodland Saturday near Greenfield Park in Ulster County, authorities said.

Lance G. Muckenhaupt, 56, of 119 Windsor Gate Dr., New Hyde Park, was ordered held on bail of $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond and remanded to the Ulster County Jail at his arraignment Monday at the Town of Wawarsing Court, the Ulster County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

He is charged with two counts of fourth-degree arson, a Class E felony, setting a fire without clearing area, burning without a permit, setting a fire that endangers property and open burning during statewide burning ban, authorities said.

On Saturday, Muckenhaupt allegedly was burning brush on the property of a former lodge without a permit, and he lost control of the fire, authorities said.

"Muckenhaupt was unable to keep the fire contained and numerous buildings were destroyed" on the lodge property, according to the release. "In all, more than 30 structures were damaged or destroyed and over 50 acres of woodland were also destroyed."