By Michael Frazier, Staff Writer
Newsday
Arson caused two suspicious fires during the weekend that damaged a Hicksville business and a Baldwin home, authorities said yesterday.
Police released few details about how they determined the fires, which broke out Sunday, were arson. They said the investigation was ongoing and police were following leads to find possible suspects in the fires, which police said were unrelated.
The first fire began at 3 a.m. outside Trinity Deli at 1 West Village Green in Hicksville. The deli is attached to other businesses, and co-owner Donna Riggs said yesterday that the flames spread to the Good Taste Chinese Kitchen and DiMaggio’s Pizza. All three businesses were closed yesterday, she said.
The fire started in the rear of the deli when a pile of flattened cardboard boxes was set ablaze, police said. It caused between $75,000 and $100,000 in damage to the deli, Riggs estimated.
No one could be reached yesterday at the pizzeria or the Chinese restaurant.
The second fire started less than an hour later when someone set on fire two automobiles parked in the driveway of a home in the 700 block of Lincoln Street in Baldwin. The vehicles were destroyed, and the home was damaged extensively when the flames spread, police said.
Evidence is being tested, said Det. Sgt. Kevin Power, commander of Nassau’s Arson / Bomb Squad. Among other things, the lab work will help police determine whether an accelerant was used, Power said.
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