Fox News Christmas tree to be rebuilt, relit after fire in Midtown; suspect released

EMBED >More News Videos Video from the Citizen app shows the Christmas Tree in front of Fox News headquarters going up in flames.

EMBED >More News Videos In an exclusive interview with Sade Baderinwa, Dr. Jill Biden offers a beacon of hope to Americans during the holidays as the country struggles amid the pandemic.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Crews outside of the News Corp building are setting up, ahead of the new Christmas Tree's arrival.The tree was set on fire Wednesday, but just one day later it is being replaced and relit.This holiday tradition has only been around at this site for three years.The 50-foot Christmas tree sat at the intersection of West 48th Street and 6th Avenue.It had only been up three days before it was set on fire just after midnight on Wednesday.The suspect, 49-year-old Craig Tamanaha was arrested on the scene.Police say he climbed up the metal structure and stuffed newspapers in open spaces and then set them on fire with a lighter.He has been charged with criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, arson, criminal nuisance, endangering others, criminal trespass, criminal tampering and disorderly conduct.He has three prior arrests, two for drug possession and one for public intoxication.Investigators say Tamahana may have tried to set the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, a few blocks away, on fire first.Tamahana was arraigned on supervised released, which means he is supposed report to a person who will report back to the court as early as Thursday.According to a criminal complaint he told police, "I have been thinking about lighting the tree on fire all day.""It's an assault on Christmas," said Rob Davanzo, a tourist.Thursday morning, Mayor-elect Eric Adams spoke out on bail reform."That's probably a picture perfect example. Not having the discretion to do a profile of the person that is in front of you. This guy has clearly made a decision that I'm going to continue to wreak havoc. Arson is a serious crime," Adams said.Onlookers were in disbelief."My sister called me from Colorado, said someone burned the tree. And now I came, and it really happened," a spectator said."I'm looking at the trees that are burnt. My husband is a big Fox News fan. I told them if we're in the area we'll get our picture taken in front of the tree. And there's no tree," a tourist said.The Christmas tree is expected to be relit around 5 p.m. and Cardinal Dolan is expected to attend.The company says the 50-foot high tree has 10,000 glass ornaments and 100,000 lights. It takes more than 21 hours to assemble.The damage was estimated to be $500,000.----------