Law enforcement is investigating a fire in Fair Lawn, New Jersey that could be classified as an intentional arson incident.
The fire was initially reported to authorities around 11:15 p.m. The Fair Lawn Police Department got a 911 call about smoke coming from the Knights of Columbus building on Maple Avenue in Fair Lawn, NJ. Firefighters and police officers were sent to the area.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, they forcibly opened the door to the building and saw the source of the smoke. Firefighters quickly extinguished before anyone was hurt or any property sustained significant damage.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fair Lawn Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into the fire. Detectives with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Task Force said that the fire may have been caused by someone throwing a Molotov cocktail through a window to the building.
If authorities determine that someone started the fire on purpose, that person could potentially face criminal charges for arson or aggravated arson. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1, arson is a third degree felony and can result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.
For more information about this case, check out the NorthJersey.com article, “Arson Suspected in Fair Lawn Fire, Officials Say.”