Police Arrest Man Who Caused Southwood Fire

A 43-year-old Waterbury man has been arrested for performing work without a license and causing a fire at the Southwood Gardens apartments at 933 Rubber Ave. in Naugatuck on Dec. 7, police said.

Angel Lopez-Sanchez, of 22 West Farms St., was charged with performing work without a license, second-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child in relation to the incident.

Police say Lopez-Sanchez used a blowtorch to remove tile flooring and a toilet in a bathroom; he was trying to melt the glue with the blowtorch when the floor caught fire, police said.

The fire began in apartment eight and quickly spread. Several people, including children, were inside when the flames broke out. Nine people were displaced by the fire, which was put out by Naugatuck, Waterbury and Oxford firefighters. Nobody was injured.

Lopez-Sanchez was released on a $10,000 cash bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at Waterbury Superior Court.