MANCHESTER, NJ – Officials are declaring a fire that occurred in Manchester Township last Tuesday was arson related.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office issued the following statement:
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that a cooperative investigation conducted by multiple law enforcemewnt agencies has determined that a fire which occurred on November 28, 2021, in a vacant structure in Manchester Township, was intentionally set.On November 28, 2021, the Manchester Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched for a report of a fire at a vacant structure on Ridgeway Road.
Once the fire was extinguished, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Manchester Township Detective Bureau, were requested to respond to the scene and conduct an examination into the origin and cause of the fire. The result of the scene examination determined that the cause of the fire was incendiary, and that the fire was intentionally set. Investigators believe that this was an isolated incident and that there is no immediate threat to the surrounding community.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone in possession of information concerning this fire is urged to contact Detective Robert Kraft of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 2745, or Detective Richard Conklin of the Manchester Township Police Department at 732-657-2009, extension 4211.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Patrol Division, and Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, for their cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation.