PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A 37-Year-Old Pemberton man has been charged for a fire he allegedly set last Thursday at around 3:35 pm near Magnolia Road, according to Chief Jay Watters.
A police report shows that on 04/28/2022 at approximately 3:35 pm, the Pemberton Township Police Department responded to the 300 block of Magnolia Rd in Pemberton for a report of a forest fire.
“Through an investigation which was conducted by the Pemberton Township Police Department, the Pemberton Township Fire Department, the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Division Fire Warden it was determined that the property owner had set the fire and was attempting to stop fire fighters from putting the fire out,” Watters said. “Patrolman Cane of the Pemberton Township Police Department attempted to identify the property owner however he refused to provide anything but his first name. The property owner was arrested and transported to the station where he was identified as Justin Faone. Faone was charged with Arson, Creating Wide Spread Risk and Obstructing the Administration of Law. He was lodged in the Burlington County Jail pending a court appearance.”
Watters noted that on that date there was a “Red Flag Warning” of the heightened risk of rapid-fire growth and spread.
“The fire took several applications of water from an aircraft as well as the response of numerous fire fighters to bring it under control and it came within 50 feet of a structure. The Pemberton Township Police Department is asking residents to check local warnings and laws pertaining to open fires prior to setting them,” Watters added.