A recent house fire in Randolph NJ may have been the result of arson.
According to a joint press release issued by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Randolph Township Police Department, investigators ruled out natural causes and accidental causes in the fire on Mountainside Avenue.
According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the blaze caused police and firefighters to shut down several lanes on Route 10 at Morris Street for approximately a half-hour.
Thankfully, at the time of the fire, the house was unoccupied. The only injuries suffered as a result of the fire were heat-related injuries to several firefighters; there were no serious injuries reported.
As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1, arson is typically a third degree crime. Prosecutors often bring third degree arson charges when a person starts a fire that recklessly endangers another person or a building. If a suspect is identified in this case and convicted of third degree arson, they could face between three and five years in New Jersey State Prison.
Although there are currently no suspects in the case, authorities indicated that the investigation remains a priority and is ongoing.
Authorities have asked that anyone with information about the fire please reach out to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit at 973-285-6200 or the Randolph Police Department at 973-989-7010.
For more information, access the NJ.com article entitled “Randolph House Fire Wasn’t Sparked by ‘Natural or Accidental Causes,’ Authorities Say.”
