$10,000 bail for man charged in 2 arson cases.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Gary V. Murray

WORCESTER- One of two Gardner men charged with setting fire to a pair of apartment buildings was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail at his arraignment yesterday.

Jason Clark, 19, of 75 Union St., Apt. 1, Gardner, pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court to two counts of arson of a dwelling and a single count of burning a building. The charges stem from fires Nov. 16 at 5 and 11 Wright St., Gardner.

The fires were both under the porches of the multistory apartment buildings, which are in a congested neighborhood. While damage was minimal, fire officials said, a large block fire could have resulted if the fires had gone unnoticed for a long time.

Mr. Clark and co-defendant 18-year-old Joseph Warren were charged after an investigation by the Gardner Fire and Police departments and the state fire marshal's office.

Judge James R. Lemire set bail of $10,000 cash or $100,000 with surety without prejudice. That will enable...