Webster Man Charged With Torching 2 Southbridge Homes, Displacing 12

SOUTHBRIDGE, MA — A Webster man was arrested Thursday after he was charged with torching two Southbridge multi-family homes and displacing 12 residents, according to the Department of Fire Services.

Gerardo Cruz-Rivera, 34, was charged with two counts each of arson of a dwelling and malicious damage to a motor vehicle in connection with a November 2024 fire that started at 7-9 Union Street in Southbridge and quickly spread to the neighboring building at 11-13 Union Street, according to a media release from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.

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"The origin and cause of the fire were investigated by the Southbridge Fire Department, Southbridge Police Department, and State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office," the release said. "Collectively, they determined that the fire began at the rear of 7-9 Union Street at ground level and spread from that area. They further determined that the fire had been intentionally set and continued to gather evidence."

A Southbridge firefighter was injured battling the blaze, according to the release.

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"A dozen families were displaced by the early morning fire, which was reported at about 3:25 a.m," the release said.

Cruz-Rivera was indicted Monday and "Southbridge police detectives located and apprehended him Thursday night," the release said.

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Cruz-Rivera was arraigned Friday in Worcester Superior Court, according to the release, and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Oct. 1.

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