SAYREVILLE – Authorities are investigating a series of arsons reported at two borough apartment complexes.
Five of the six incidents took place in laundry rooms at Skytop Gardens within a three-day period, including four on the same day, according to Fire Marshal Kevin Krushinski.
In each case, firefighters contained the flames to the structures. There were no injuries and only minimal property damage, according to reports.
The first fire occurred in a laundry room in the area of Building 25 at 2:27 p.m. June 13. The others all took place on June 15 in laundry rooms in the area of buildings 16, 29, 31 and 33.
During the first fire, the apartment complex’s main office received an alarm from Building 25, where a garbage can had been lit on fire in a laundry room. As police and firefighters were responding, a maintenance worker arrived at the scene first and was able to put the melted can outside of the structure, according to a police report. Firefighters then extinguished the flames and ventilated the room, which had a large amount of smoke.
On June 15, an arson incident was reported at the laundry room near Building 33 at roughly 11 a.m. A plastic garbage can was on fire in a basement laundry room adjacent to the building. Investigators believe the can was placed near the main electrical circuit panel in an effort to cause a power outage in the building, according to the police report.
Later, at 2:07 p.m., police and firefighters were dispatched to the scene of another laundry room arson at the apartment complex. This incident occurred near Building 16, where the fire alarm went off after a garbage can was lit on fire.
A sixth incident occurred at 12:34 a.m. June 22 at an apartment complex owned by Lakeview Developers Limited, Parlin. Although the fire also took place in a trash receptacle, police are investigating the cause and whether the incident is related to the arsons that occurred at Skytop Gardens Apartments. The Melrose Hose Company No. 1 extinguished the fire.
Anyone with information pertaining to the incidents was asked to call Detective Douglas Sprague of the Sayreville Police Department at 732-727-4444.