Star Sommelier Set Fires At Manhattan Outdoor Dining Sheds: FDNY

NEW YORK, NY — A prominent sommelier who has poured wines at some of New York's ritziest restaurants is accused of setting fires at multiple outdoor dining structures in Manhattan, authorities said Wednesday.

Caleb Ganzer, 35, has been arrested on arson charges for allegedly lighting fires on Lower Manhattan streets in January, June and July.

Ganzer spent two years as sommelier at Eleven Madison Park and currently serves as managing partner at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, a wine bar on Centre Street. In 2017, he was named one of Food & Wine's sommeliers of the year.

The first fire occurred on Jan. 8, when a dining shed owned by Forsythia Restaurant on Stanton Street went up in flames shortly before midnight.

The next incident was June 26, when Ganzer allegedly lit trash on fire at the corner of Broome Street and Centre Street around 4:35 a.m.

The most recent was July 13, when Prince Street Pizza's outdoor dining structure was lit on fire close to 3 a.m.

Ganzer was apprehended in connection with the July 13 fire before fire marshals pinned him to the other two, the FDNY said. The owner of Forsythia told the New York Times that surveillance footage showed a well-dressed man trying to set his dining shed on fire four times in January.

"Every act of arson has the potential to spread rapidly, endangering the lives of New Yorkers and FDNY members," fire commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said in a statement. "Thankfully in these incidents there were no injuries and the suspect has been apprehended before another fire could be set."

The damage at Forsythia cost $3,500 to repair, the Times reported, while Prince Street Pizza's was less serious.

Ganzer faces two counts of arson, two counts of criminal mischief and three counts of reckless endangerment.