John Rivera, 50, was charged with third-degree arson, threatening, breach of the peace, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving and driving under suspension.

Police said Rivera entered the Steuben Street apartment of his estranged wife, 50-year-old Maria Rivera, shortly before 6:50 p.m. and placed a lit candle under the bed.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and discovered the candle, police said.

Maria Rivera was at Home Depot buying new locks for the apartment at the time of the fire and saw it when she approached her home, police said. The couple had been separated for several weeks, she told police.

After the fire, officers saw John Rivera standing outside his pickup truck on East Main Street, a short distance from the apartment.

Police said he sped off in the truck when the officers approached and they lost sight of him on Water Street.

He was spotted several minutes later with his truck in a parking lot at Water Street and Fairfield Avenue, police said.

Rivera was carrying a book of matches and police seized his clothes for the arson investigation, police said.

Before the fire, he called his wife several times and threatened to harm her, police said.

He was held in lieu of $140,000 bond for an appearance in Superior Court.

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.