A man has been accused of impersonating a firefighter at the scene of a deadly house fire in Morganton early Wednesday morning.
Shortly after 12 a.m., the Morganton Department of Public Safety responded to a fire at a duplex on Morehead Street.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a neighbor, dressed in New York City Fire Department turn-out gear, attempting to put out the fire with a garden hose.
ALSO READ: Deadly fire breaks out at construction site in SouthPark area of Charlotte
Firefighters said they attempted to take over, but the man refused to leave the property or allow professionals to begin ground operations.
Eventually, the man, 37-year-old Christopher Victor Miglino, was arrested.
He was ultimately charged with resisting, delaying, or obstructing a public officer, impersonating a firefighter or medical personnel, and violating a city ordinance.
Family members told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty that Miglino is a former firefighter with the New York City Fire Department, and he was trying to keep the flames away from their home.
She said she doesn’t feel like he should be charged.
“No, absolutely not. He was just trying to take care of our family. And to make sure everybody next door was okay, He used to be a New York fireman. He runs outside to see those apartments in flames,” she explained.
However, a spokesperson with the New York City Fire Department said they did not have anyone with the name Miglino who has ever been employed at the department.
ALSO READ: 9-month-old killed in Chester County house fire, officials say
Miglino is being held without bond until his court date in April.
The identity of the person killed in the fire is unknown at this time.
Morganton firefighters believe the cause of the fire is likely accidental, but they are continuing to investigate.
VIDEO: 9 month old killed in Chester County house fire, officials say