Arson suspected in fire that damaged 3 unoccupied townhouses in South Jersey
It was at least the fourth suspicious fire at the new Iron Gate development in Gloucester Township since September.
Officials are investigating a suspicious fire that damaged three unoccupied townhouses in a new development in Gloucester Township early Tuesday — the fourth such fire since September.
No injuries were reported in the blaze at Iron Gate Development at Jarvis and Williamstown Roads in Sicklerville.
Police said a security guard discovered the fire in the rear of the townhouses and called 911 at 2:52 a.m. The fire damaged three adjoining units, police said, but it was quickly extinguished.
The construction site was the scene of what authorities also described as "suspicious fires" in late September, November, and January. Tuesday morning's blaze was comparatively tame, residents said. The fires in September and January spread so quickly that residents of the adjacent neighborhood were evacuated by police, said Lauren Brinhall, who has lived in the area for almost four years.
"I have two kids and they're absolutely terrified," she said. "Every night they ask me, 'Is there going to be a fire tonight?' "
Adelaide Cook, who has lived in the area for 11 years, said she thought the succession of fires had ended because there had not been one since January.
"The first fire was really huge. My son was worried about me living here," she said. "I just don't know what people are getting into anymore."
She added that there's usually a security guard on site, and that police drive through five or six times a day.
Gloucester Township Police Capt. Brendan Barton said the department is working with a private security firm, Marion Security Agency, to bolster their presence at the site. Marion Security declined to comment.
Signs at the site say there is 24-hour video surveillance, and there are floodlights, but the spot of Tuesday morning's fire was just out of view, residents said.
"We are treating this as a criminal investigation," said Barton, who declined to comment on whether police have any suspects.
Virginia-based CalAtlantic Homes began construction on the townhouse project at least two years ago. In February, the company was acquired by the Florida-based Lennar Corp., which plans to complete a community of roughly 40 townhouses.
Officials at Lennar were not immediately available for comment.
Before construction began, the site was an empty lot and stomping ground for neighborhood kids, residents said.
The Gloucester Township Police Department is investigating, along with local fire marshals, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. Those authorities also helped investigate the first three fires, all of which police said appeared to be intentional.
The Gloucester Township police are asking for help in finding the arsonist. Anyone with information about the fires may call police at 856-228-4500 or leave an anonymous tip at 856-842-5560.