Man Accused Of Setting Fire To His Astoria Restaurant: FDNY

ASTORIA, QUEENS — The owner of Ignited Restaurant & Lounge in Astoria has been arrested on a federal arson charge, after fire marshals accused him of starting fires that had the Steinway Street enterprise living up to its name.

New Jersey man Asif Raja stands accused of using a flammable liquid to set a series of fires inside his hookah lounge the night of Aug. 4, according to the FDNY.

Surveillance video released by authorities shows a man dousing tables and chairs with the liquid, then running as they burst into flames.

The building's automatic sprinkler system put out the fires before firefighters even arrived, the FDNY said. No one was hurt.

“We are extremely grateful that no one was injured during this incident and for the collaboration between all the law enforcement agencies involved in bringing this individual to justice,” Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said.

Authorities suspect that Raja, 54, set the fires due to financial woes related to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York Post reported.

The business has been closed since March, according to an Instagram post.

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A post shared by Ignited Restaurant & Lounge (@ignitedlounge)

FDNY fire marshals deemed the fire suspicious, and worked with the Strategic Explosive and Arson Response Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to identify Raja.

Raja pleaded not guilty and was released on $140,000 bond, according to federal court records.

His lawyer declined to comment.

If convicted, Raja faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a federal prison.