Southington police have arrested a 24-year-old volunteer firefighter who is accused of setting a dumpster on fire.
The fire broke out on the night of June 2 in a dumpster in the parking lot of Raya Clinic at 200 Queen Street, close to buildings housing the chiropractic clinic and Mad Hatter Car Wash, according to police.
Police identified Christopher Newman, 24, of Bristol, as a Southington volunteer firefighter and said he set items within that trash receptacle on fire.
Newman turned himself in at 11 a.m. on Wednesday after learning there was a warrant for his arrest and has been charged with reckless burning and second-degree criminal mischief.
Southington fire officials said in a statement Wednesday that the department is "disappointed" in the situation.
"The Department would like to stress that this incident is in no way representative of the dedicated job that all of our firefighters do every day for the Town of Southington," Fire Chief Harold L. Clark said in a statement.
He was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is due in court on Sept. 2.
