# Mineola man charged for apartment fire exposing chemical lab

> Man faces arson charges after fire reveals illegal chemical lab in NYC apartment.
- Title: Mineola man charged for apartment fire exposing chemical lab
- Summary: Man faces arson charges after fire reveals illegal chemical lab in NYC apartment. Nolan Gaugler, 34, charged with arson after fire exposed his apartment's…
- Keywords: nolan gaugler, mineola, nassau county, arson, chemicals, fire, arrest, news, local, man, charged, apartment
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/post/mineola-man-charged-fire-exposes-chemical-lab-apartment-long-island/19855102
- Published: 2026-09-21T16:24:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nolan gaugler, mineola, nassau county, arson, chemicals, fire, arrest, news, local
## Fire breaks out
A fire erupted in a Mineola apartment after a chemical experiment went wrong.

> He had a runaway chemical reaction that he was trying to dispose of, and he dropped it in the hallway and it lit the hallway on fire
## Chemical lab discovered
Police found professional lab equipment and unstable chemicals in the apartment.

> There's tables with professional lab grade glassware, Bunsen burners, stirrers that you would only find in a chem laboratory were all in his bedroom
## Arrested for arson
Nolan Gaugler, 34, charged with arson after police say he started the fire.

> Nolan Gaugler, 34, was arraigned after authorities alleged he started a fire during what police described as a chemistry experiment in his apartment
## Unstable mixtures
Some chemicals were explosive and required immediate safety measures.

> Some of the mixtures were determined to be unstable and explosive, according to law enforcement
## Evacuation
Residents evacuated the building after the fire started at 2:30 a.m.

> Residents of the building on Lincoln Avenue in Mineola were evacuated for hours at 2:30 a.m. while authorities responded to the scene
## Charges and release
Gaugler released with ankle monitor after pleading not guilty.

> Gaugler pleaded not guilty and was released with an ankle monitor
## Key takeaway

Nolan Gaugler, 34, charged with arson after fire exposed his apartment's chemical lab containing unstable mixtures.