Man, 23, arrested in connection with bar fire in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood

BOSTON — A man has been arrested in connection with a fire at a Squealing Pig bar in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood.

Prasshida Baruwal, 23, of Everett, is accused of setting the bar on fire Tuesday morning. He is charged with arson, breaking and entering at night to commit a felony, destruction of personal property and more.

“I thought it was an accident,” says Boston neighbor Diamond Nichols. “It honestly makes me a little nervous.”

Witnesses witness bar fire

Police said witnesses at the scene spotted the suspect outside the bar, breaking glass and taking videos of Baruwal dressed in black. One witness spotted the suspect dropping what he thought was a lit towel before the bar exploded into flames, and surveillance video confirmed the action.

Boston firefighters were able to bring the flames under control, but not before the bar was severely damaged and several nearby cars melted.

” It's frightening. It’s scary,” says Cameron Kuck.

“It puts things in perspective when it’s close to home.”

The neighborhood is filled with students living off campus.

“There are people walking around right next to and around the restaurant, so it's scary. Someone is doing something very illegal, very dangerous, and if someone gets hurt, it's totally like a federal case, a felony,” said Kuck, who attends Berklee College of Music.

Neighbors are stunned and upset that their favorite bar has closed for the summer.

“We were just talking about crime in the city. It's all around us, but it's obviously more in perspective when it's next to you,” said Sydney Brikhahn, a student in the Northeast.

“We're going to have to hope that something like this doesn't happen again,” said Allie Ziegler, a student at Northeastern College.

Police are still investigating the incident.