Former fire captain charged with arson

Gregory Bomba, 45, a former fire captain, who lives in Newtown surrendered himself to police in connection with a February fire that occurred during the dinner at Echo Hose Company #1, police said. Bomba was charged with second degree arson, second degree endangerment, second degree criminal mischief and conspiracy. Volunteer firefighter William Tortora, brother of Fire Marshal James “Chic” Tortora, was arrested last week in connection with the fire. less Gregory Bomba, 45, a former fire captain, who lives in Newtown surrendered himself to police in connection with a February fire that occurred during the dinner at Echo Hose Company #1, police said. Bomba was ... more Photo: Shelton Police Department Photo Photo: Shelton Police Department Photo Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Former fire captain charged with arson 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

SHELTON — Two prominent members of the town’s firefighter community, allegedly liquored up from a fire department dinner, are charged with setting their own fire outside the firehouse.

Gregory Bomba, 45, a former fire captain, and William Tortora, 57, the brother of Fire Marshal James “Chic” Tortora, were being held in lieu of $250,000 bonds after being charged with second-degree arson, second-degree reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

“These are things you don't expect from people in service, so it's disappointing,” Mayor Mark Lauretti said.

Both men were well-respected volunteer firefighters. Police wouldn’t discuss a motive for their actions accept to say that both men were believed to have been intoxicated at the time.

Although the incident occurred Feb. 3, court documents indicate there was some confusion as to who should investigate it. At one point, James Tortora was assigned to investigate it by Fire Chief Fran Jones. Jones didn’t contact police until 10 days later and at that point, police detectives pointed out that having James Tortora do the investigation may be a conflict of interest because Tortora’s brother was a suspect.

Police suggested that the State Fire Marshall’s Office be contacted but this was not done.

Shelton fire officials declined comment.

William Tortora was arrested Friday. Bomba, 45, of Newtown surrendered himself Monday morning.

Police said they later obtained video surveillance footage of the incident that occurred outside the Echo Hose Company firehouse.

They said the video shows William Tortora, Bomba and another man standing at the back of a white pickup truck. Bomba and Tortora are seen lighting card board boxes on fire in the bed of the truck. As the boxes burst into flame, Tortora can been seen with his cell phone video recording the fire, police said.

After a few minutes, the entire bed of the truck is engulfed with flames shooting five feet in the air, police said. They said Tortora then began to throw some of the flaming boxes around the parking lot damaging a city-owned car nearby.

Police said Tortora then got into the truck and drove off with the bed still flaming. Drivers beeped their horns at him as he drove the flaming truck down Howe Avenue and onto Route 8, burning boxes flying onto the roadways.

Police said Tortora was later laughing and bragging about the incident.

Police seized Tortora’s cell phone; one of the videos on the phone had the voice of man saying “all these cars are going to burn.”