$25,000 bail set for man charged with May Street fire; Suspect's long criminal record cited.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Gary V. Murray

WORCESTER - A May Street man who was injured in a fire he is accused of setting was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail yesterday in Worcester Superior Court.

Peter G. Duvarney, 38, was arraigned on charges of arson of a dwelling and causing injury to a firefighter in connection with the Feb. 3 fire that destroyed the second and third floors of a three-decker at 10 May St., where Mr. Duvarney lived.

Mr. Duvarney, who pleaded not guilty, was ordered held by Judge Peter W. Agnes Jr. on bail of $25,000 cash, or $250,000 with surety, requested by Assistant District Attorney Joseph A. Quinlan.

Police said Mr. Duvarney was rescued from the fire through a second-floor window

and was taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus, where he was treated for smoke inhalation. He was arrested after his release from the hospital and was indicted March 19, moving his case from Central District Court to Worcester Superior Court.

Fire officials said witnesses reported that Mr. Duvarney had been fighting with other tenants and had threatened to burn the building before the fire. Witnesses said they saw Mr. Duvarney drag bed sheets, rags and trash onto a second-floor rear porch minutes before the fire was discovered about 2:30 a.m., according to fire officials.

Other tenants managed to get out of the building safely on their own.

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