A city firefighter was arrested Thursday on charges of making false alarms to a Bronx firehouse set to be closed overnight, due to budget cuts.

If convicted, Nicholas Vrettos could face up to seven years in prison on felony charges of making a false report.

Authorities said he made those calls shortly after it was announced that the staffing at Ladder 53 on City Island, Bronx was going to be cut during the overnight hours.

Sources told NY1 that Vrettos, who lives on City Island but works at a firehouse in Manhattan, may have been angered by the closure plans and created the emergency work to show how much the firehouse is needed.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said Vrettos not only put his coworkers in danger but the lives of civilians as well.

"You're taking a unit away from what might be a real emergency where somebody is having a heart attack or there's a fire or any other life-threatening emergency and that's the danger and that's why this is a felony," said Scoppetta.

NY1 talked to Vrettos's brother Thursday, who was unaware of the arrest.

Residents of City Island did not approve of the allegation, but were skeptical about its truth.

"I think there's other ways than putting people in jeopardy,” said a resident. “If it in any way illustrated our plight, it at least had that effect. I don’t think it was a good way to do it, and I’m not for it and I’m not condoning it.”

“How can I make a judgment when I don't know what I'm judging,” said another.

A town hall meeting is scheduled to discuss the City Island firehouse's proposed closure next week.