Jahan Kia, of Plainview, charged with setting fire that killed 3 animals, police say

A man faces arson charges after police said he set fire to a Plainview home Monday evening, causing two firefighters to be injured and the deaths of three animals, Nassau police said.

Jahan Kia, 40, a tenant of the Eileen Avenue residence, was charged with starting a fire in the basement stairwell. He was taken into custody Monday night, police said.

Kia is charged with third-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief and torturing/injuring animals, police said. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead. He was released on no-cash bail, according to online court records.

The Bethpage Fire Department responded to a 911 call at 7:52 p.m. and found fire throughout the home, said Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro.

 About 100 firefighters from the Hicksville, Jericho, Syosset, South Farmingdale, Plainview and Westbury fire departments brought the fire under control within 30 minutes, Uttaro said. The home is in the Bethpage Fire District.

The occupants of the home, five adults and two children, escaped the fire and are now displaced. Two dogs and one cat died in the fire, Uttaro said.

Two firefighters suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns to the hands. They were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan. No other injuries were reported, he said.