FOX News Media will debut its newly-built All-American Christmas tree with an on-air tree-lighting ceremony after the first one was destroyed in an arsonist attack.
The ceremony will take place during Thursday's installment of "The Five."
Fox News' Lawrence Jones and Abby Horancek, who co-hosted the first tree-lighting ceremony, will return alongside Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, Janice Dean, Mike Rowe, Pete Hegseth, Rachel Campos-Duffy, Todd Piro and Carley Shimkus.
Cardinal Dolan, our contributor Reverend Jacques DeGraff, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, and members of the FDNY and NYPD will also attend the lighting along with Christmas carolers.
Both FOX News Media and Fox Corporation have made a $100,000 donation to Answer the Call which provides financial assistance to the families of fallen service members of the FDNY and NYPD, the two agencies who responded immediately to the arson incident.
FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott informed staffers Wednesday that FOX News Media’s All-American Christmas tree would be rebuilt as "a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment" after it was set on fire outside Fox News’ New York City headquarters.
A 49-year-old male suspect is in custody for allegedly setting a large Christmas tree on fire outside the Fox News headquarters in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/gxK5SeMsjT
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) December 8, 2021
"Earlier this morning, FOX News Media’s All-American Christmas tree outside our building on FOX Square was set on fire in a malicious arson attack. The 50-foot tree, which was just lit in a beautiful on-air ceremony on Sunday night, was engulfed in flames and smoke permeated the building," Scott wrote in a company memo.
"There were no injuries and thankfully all employees working inside the building remained safe throughout the duration of the fire. We are very grateful to the FDNY which quickly mobilized to extinguish the fire and the NYPD which apprehended the criminal on site, who has since been charged with arson, among multiple other crimes," Scott continued. "Our security team also did a great job responding to the incident immediately."
Fox News security spotted the suspect, later identified as Craig Tamanaha, climbing the 50-foot-tall tree at the center of Fox Square just after midnight. The Sixth Avenue and 48th Street location is in the heart of Midtown.
NYPD officers arrived at the scene and saw the suspect running from the location. They took him into custody before filing charges that included criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and arson. City firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze.
Tamanaha, 49, had three prior arrests: two for drug possession and one for public intoxication. He was said to be homeless with a last known address in Brooklyn.
"This has become a new wonderful tradition on FOX Square over the last three years. We will not let this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice deter us. We are in the process of rebuilding and installing a new tree as a message that there can be peace, light and joy even during a dark moment like this," Scott wrote. "We are currently planning on a lighting ceremony for the new tree and will send those details once we have them."
New York Times Headline: “Tree Catches Fire.” Well, it didn’t spontaneously combust. A dangerous individual SET THE TREE ON FIRE. Sadly predictable. pic.twitter.com/D0Y6XRO5Gd
— Dagen McDowell (@dagenmcdowell) December 8, 2021
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