Portsmouth Man Charged With Arson In Newport Condo Fire

NEWPORT, RI — A Portsmouth man was arrested Thursday after police ruled a fire at a condo complex in Newport an arson.

Joseph Fragata, 56, was charged with first-degree arson and was scheduled to be arraigned in Newport County District Court on Friday.

Around 4:03 a.m. Thursday, a fire broke out at Misty Harbor Condominiums at 26 West Narragansett Avenue. The fire was extinguished with the help of several mutual aid fire departments, including crews from the U.S. Naval Station, Middletown, Portsmouth, North Kingstown, Tiverton, Jamestown, and the Providence Canteen.

"Crews did a heroic effort, containing the fire to three of the 14 units, with only an additional four units affected by smoke and water," Newport police Lt. Joseph Carroll said. "Once the scene was secured, investigators, from the Newport Fire Marshal's office, the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal, and detectives from the Newport Police Department commenced an investigation."

Following the investigation, electrical causes were ruled out for the fire. Later, a police K-9 unit discovered an accelerant near the origin of the blaze, Newport police said.

Police said they later identified Fragata as a suspect, who has an extensive criminal history in Massachusetts. Detectives gathered evidence, including video footage, and issued arrest and search warrants.

Fragata was arrested around 6 p.m. at his home in Portsmouth. Police seized his vehicle and cell phone as evidence.

The Newport Police Department and Newport Fire Marshal’s Office encourages anyone with information related to this case to call Detective Matthew Clarizio at 401-845-5775.

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