Paul Lucia, patron of Riley Fibbers bar and restaurant in East Islip, charged with setting facility on fire
A kitchen fire Thursday evening caused heavy damage to Riley Fibbers pub and grill. Credit: Joseph Sperber
An Islip Terrace man was arrested Friday on charges that he set fire to a restaurant-bar in East Islip, Suffolk County police said.
Authorities said Paul Lucia, 60, had been a patron at Riley Fibbers, at 148 Carleton Ave. on Thursday evening when he was asked to leave the restaurant.
Lucia then set the back area of the building on fire at 7:30 p.m., according to an investigation by Arson Squad detectives.
The restaurant, which suffered heavy damage, was evacuated, and there were no injuries.
Fire officials said firefighters from East Islip, Central Islip, Islip, Islip Terrace, Sayville, West Sayville, Bay Shore and Brentwood responded, bringing the blaze under control just before 8 p.m.
Police said they located Lucia in his vehicle, which had stolen license plates.
Lucia was arrested and charged with second-degree arson and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
He was to be held overnight at the Suffolk police Third Precinct and arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday. No information on his legal counsel was available.
Newsday's Robert Brodsky contributed to this story.
John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.
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