Overview

• Gerardo Cruz-Rivera, 34, was arrested and charged with two counts of arson of a dwelling and two counts of malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
• He was arraigned and is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Oct. 1.
• Reports differ on the court venue for the arraignment, with accounts citing Dudley District Court and Worcester Superior Court.
• Officials determined the fire began at ground level to the rear of a Union Street building before spreading to a neighboring structure, prompting a seven-alarm response from more than a dozen departments.
• One firefighter was hospitalized and all residents escaped; displacement figures vary across reports, citing either 12 families or about 30 people, and WHDH reports a Worcester County grand jury indictment.