NWS TRUMP

Pro-Trump "T" sign by Staten Island artist Scott LoBaido burned down last night on the lawn of homeowner Sam Pirozzolo in Castleton Corners. (Courtesy Sam Pirozzolo)

(Third-Party-Submitted)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The FDNY is investigating the blaze that damaged a statue supporting Donald Trump early Sunday morning in Castleton Corners, a spokesman said.

The fire department responded to the location at 1:16 a.m. for the blazing 12 foot "T" at the intersection of Manor Road and Sturges Street outside the home of Sam Pirozzolo.

The fire was brought under control by 1:36 a.m., an FDNY spokesman said.

"It was about 1 a.m last night and my wife, two kids and I were sound asleep when our neighbors rang the doorbell to tell us the "T" was ablaze." Pirozzolo said. "Otherwise, we would have slept right through it"

Earlier reports indicated that the fire was classified as a simple "rubbish fire."

However, a spokesman for the FDNY confirmed that the blaze was under investigation later Sunday evening.

The giant "T" with an American flag on it was created by Staten Island-based artist Scott LoBaido in response to "harassment of Trump supporters," he told the Advance in May.

"I'm pretty disappointed in this. I was more worried about them burning down Sam's (the homeowner's) house," Lobaido said. "People have defaced my work in the past, but this is just out of control."

He believes that others' intolerance of his opinions was the cause of the fire.

"I've been very provocative and controversial with my opinions and artwork, but this is just unfortunate that certain people can preach tolerance, yet it doesn't work if it's not what they believe in," Lobaido said.

Pirozzolo said he had his own suspicions about how the blaze started.

"I assume it was committed by a pro-Hillary supporter and I hope that this incident is elevated from an arson to a hate crime, because that's how I see it since it was done on my private property," Pirozzolo said. Thank God it didn't spread to my home, which is in close proximity to the sign."

This was not the first interaction Pirozzolo's family had with fire while living at the location.

"Eight years ago, my house was burned down due to a fire. My wife and I were at work and there was an electrical shortage," he said. It was a 95 percent loss, so we are very sensitive to fire issues."

He said a new sign will be erected to replace the destroyed one.

"We will be erecting a new 'pro-first amendment right-to-back-the-candidate-of- our-choice' statue. ... (The new sign) is going to be huge, huge," Pirozzolo said. "On Tuesday we are going to have a press conference and maybe have a Staten Island militia stand guard so we are safe while we do this,"