A Portsmouth man accused of setting a fire that damaged multiple condominiums in Newport's 5th Ward faced a judge Friday morning.

PROVIDENCE – A Portsmouth, R.I., man is accused of arson after a fire broke out at a condominium complex on Thursday, according to police. Joseph Fragata was arrested hours after the blaze at Misty Harbor Condominiums at 26 West Narragansett Ave., in Newport, R.I., city police said in a statement.

According to police, a subsequent investigation ruled out electrical causes, however, a K9 unit detected an accelerant near the origin of the fire.

The Newport Police Department said a man was arrested for allegedly starting a fire at a condominium complex on Thursday morning. Joseph Fragata, of Portsmouth, was charged with First Degree arson. Firefighters responded to the Misty Harbor Condominiums around 4 a.

NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) — A Portsmouth man accused of starting a fire that significantly damaged several condominiums in Newport faced a judge Friday morning. Joseph Fragata, 56, was arraigned on an arson charge and ordered held without bail. He is also charged with stalking and disorderly conduct.

Newport police say Joseph Fragata​, 56, of Portsmouth, set fire to condos at the Misty Harbor Condominiums at 26 West Narragansett Ave.

A Portsmouth man with a lengthy rap sheet was arrested for allegedly torching a Newport condominium complex early Thursday

A Portsmouth man is facing arson charges after a massive fire in Newport Thursday morning. Police say they arrested Joseph Fragata at his home last night. They say he has an extensive criminal history in Massachusetts.