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MONROE: Fire destroys abandoned house on South Brunswick border

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
   SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Lightning from strong thunderstorms last weekend may have been to blame for a fire that destroyed an abandoned farmhouse off Route 535 in the township June. 4.
   Police received a call at 4:30 p.m. June 4 reporting a fire in the structure located several hundred feet off Route 535 north near the Holy Cross Cemetery.
   Firefighters from Monmouth Junction, Kendall Park and Kingston responded to the scene and found the abandoned home fully engulfed in flames, according to police.
   The fire caused crews to call for assistance from Jamesburg and North Brunswick, according to police.
   Firefighters fought the fire for about 20 minutes to get the blaze under control, but the building was completely destroyed, according to Fire Marshal Brian Spahr.
   Police said the building had been vacant for many years.
   A witness reported seeing a lightning strike in the area of the building about an hour before the call came in, police said.
   Strong thunderstorms moved through the region last weekend, sparking several severe storm alerts.
   According to police, the witness saw the building on fire about 30 minutes after seeing the lightning strike.
   The fire caused Route 535 to be closed for three hours, and fire crews remained on the scene until approximately 8 p.m., according to police.
   In addition to the fire companies, the Monmouth Junction and Kendall Park first aid squads also responded to the scene.
   There were no injuries during the fire, according to police.