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Henry Calam, 44, of 83 Halsey Drive, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree criminal mischief in connection with the fire. He turned himself in to Greenwich Police on Tuesday and posted $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court April 29.
On the day of the fire, Calam was working in the garage at 30 Northridge Road, Old Greenwich, at a home he was renting. He was using spray paint and an electric grinder while working on a go-cart, police said.
The electric grinder was the ignition source, creating an explosive atmosphere with the paint fumes in an area with no ventilation, officials said.
The fire quickly engulfed the garage and spread to the main house, causing significant damage to the structure, police said. Calam suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was rescued by an off-duty firefighter, police said.
It wasn't the only time Calam had an issue with an explosion and fire at the residence while working on a project, police said. On Jan. 7, there was a small explosion and a fire while he was working in the same garage, police said.
During the investigation into that incident, inappropriately stored fireworks were discovered in the garage, police said. They were not deemed as the cause of the fire but were a potential hazard, police said.
Calam was warned of the seriousness of improperly stored combustible materials and general fire safety by the fire marshal, police said.
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