MORGANTON, N.C. — A Morganton man is accused of not only impersonating a firefighter but also impeding crews' efforts to douse a house fire early Wednesday morning.
Morganton Public Safety responded to the scene along Morehead Street near Avery Avenue around 12:10 a.m. They found the house engulfed in flames and a neighbor wearing fire gear while trying to put out the flames with a garden hose. The neighbor, identified as 37-year-old Victor Miglino, was found to be wearing gear that appeared to be from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
While crews tried to start work on the scene, Miglino reportedly refused to leave the property or allow them to start. He was taken into custody by the Burke County Sheriff's Office after officials said he refused to obey commands.
A person was found dead in the home, Morganton officials confirmed. That person is believed to be the owner of the home, but officials are waiting on autopsy results before they can determine the person's identity.
Miglino is now charged with resisting a public officer, impersonating a firefighter, and violating a city ordinance regarding obedience to fire personnel. He was not granted a bond because he was out on pre-trial release already. Miglino will be in court on April 18.
Burke EMS, Morganton City Electric, and Piedmont Natural Gas also responded to assist.
WCNC Charlotte requested details from the FDNY on Wednesday to see if Miglino had previously served with them and still had gear that had been issued to him. On Thursday, the FDNY responded and said the turnout coat Miglino had was altered to include the FDNY name and letters.
Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you're ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com.