Family and two dogs displaced, but uninjured
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
Two men were charged with starting a raging fire that left a family and their two dogs homeless Monday night.
According to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Terrence Strothers, 24, of South Bound Brook and Gennaro Toscano, 19, of Green Brook, were arrested on Sept. 30 and were charged with aggravated arson and criminal mischief.
Police said the fire report came in around 11 p.m. Monday night at the residence in Kendall Park.
Two adult residents and two dogs were able to escape as the fire spread through the two-story home.
"On arrival, our firefighters saw extensive fire in the two story structure," Kendall Park Fire Chief Chris Perez said. "It took 60 firefighters from several fire companies about three hours to bring the fire under control."
The home was destroyed and shelter was provided to the family by the American Red Cross, police said.
Firefighters from Kendall Park, Monmouth Junction, Kingston, Little Rocky Hill, and Plainsboro Fire Companies responded to the call.
Police said an investigation by Detective Kenneth Herman of the South Brunswick Police Department and Detective Todd O’Malley of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined the defendants intentionally set fire to the home.
Both men were lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick in lieu of $75,000 bail for Mr. Strothers and $50,000 bail for Mr. Toscano, police said.
The investigation is continuing and active, police said.