Old Greenwich Resident Is Charged Following House Explosion

An Old Greenwich man is facing reckless endangerment and criminal mischief charges in the wake of an explosion and fire that caused significant damage to the home he rented on Northridge Road last month.

The man surrendered on Tuesday to Greenwich Police who obtained an arrest warrant in connection with the March 9 incident they said was caused by “carelessness.” The fire broke out shortly after noon after an explosion rocked the neighborhood.

Police said the suspect was working in the garage, using spray paint and an electric grinder while working or a go-kart. The electric grinder was the ignition source that created an explosive atmosphere created by the paint fumes in the garage that wasn’t ventilated, police said in a statement. The fire quickly engulfed the garage and spread to the main house causing significant damage to the structure.

Police said, “The fire is a direct result of improper ventilation and carelessness. The investigation concluded that this was this was a preventable fire.” Police and fire officials said the March 9 fire was the second incident involving the suspect and a fire in the garage of the rented home.

On Jan. 7, there was a smaller explosion and fire in the same garage while the man was working on a project. During an investigation of that incident, fireworks were discovered inside the garage. Fire marshals found the fireworks were not appropriately stored and created a hazard but did not the cause of the fire, police said. The man was warned of the seriousness of improperly stored combustible material and general fire safety by the fire marshal.

Two months later, the explosion and second fire occurred.

Henry Calam, 44, of 83 Halsey Dr., Old Greenwich, was charged April 21 with first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief, for the March fire. Calam was seriously injured in the blaze.

Calam was released after posting a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear April 29 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

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Contributed photos and video from the scene on Northridge Road in Old Greenwich, March 9, 2015. Credit: Robert Meehan.