A New Jersey man is accused of setting his girlfriend’s parents’ home on fire early Tuesday morning following an argument, police said.
The house fire was reported just after 3 a.m. on the 100 block of Old Beekman Road in South Brunswick. The blaze took more than 70 firefighters from several departments across Middlesex County roughly two hours to bring under control.
2 Alarm fire on Old Beekman Road. Firefighters remain on scene. No injuries. Fire reported at 3:09 AM. pic.twitter.com/GumlaGlLsI
— So Brunswick PD (@SoBrunswickPD) September 3, 2024
“Police and firefighters were met with heavy fire through the roof of the home when they arrived,” South Brunswick Deputy Police Chief Jim Ryan told NJ.com.
Police said suspect Leonard Jones, 50, lives at the home sporadically and had just had a fight with his girlfriend. At one point during their argument, he went upstairs momentarily before returning and telling her to call the fire department.
While all four people in the home managed to escape unharmed, the house itself was heavily damaged.
A neighbor told News 12 New Jersey one of the residents came to their door to warn them about the fire before first responders arrived.
“It was quite extensive,” Elise Campanella told the station. “My fear was that it was going to come from the trees and fall on top of my house. It was insane.”
Police had received complaints from the house multiple times in the hours before the blaze.
“We were here two times earlier, once for a noise complaint at about midnight. That noise was abated, and then we got a call about 10 minutes before the fire that there was an out-of-control male at the residence,” South Brunswick Police Detective Sgt. Tim Hoover told ABC 7. “Officers then got a call a fire had broken out, seemed to be out of control. … By the time they got here, the house was fully engulfed.”
Jones was arrested and has been charged with aggravated arson.
South Brunswick police and the South Brunswick fire marshal are leading the investigation.
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