By Charles Layton
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, it seems, is still not telling all it knows about the March 11 fire that destroyed a former hotel and six homes on Surf and Atlantic avenues in Ocean Grove.
We reported last week that the fire may have been caused by a gas heater in the old hotel’s basement. (Go here to reread that story.)
We also reported on the refusal of officials in the county fire marshal’s office and the county prosecutor’s office to tell the public what they know about the investigation of that fire. (Go here for our editorial on that.)
A central question is whether the gas heater, which was used to provide heat for construction workers at the site, might have been left burning and unattended the night before the fire. (The fire was reported at 5:11 on the following morning.)
On Thursday, in a telephone interview, Assistant County Prosecutor Chris Decker told us that the evidence “did not enable the investigators to determine with certainty whether the heater was left on.”
Asked if investigators had asked the construction workers at the site whether the heater was left burning, Decker said the workers had indeed been interviewed. However, he said, “I can’t get into what individual people said.”
When asked whether a night watchman or guard had been present at any time during the night, he said, “The scene was left secured the night before. My understanding is the area was locked. That’s all I can say, I don’t know any more.”
He did not provide answers when asked about the type of heater and whether it was in good working condition.
He said his office had conducted “a thorough, thorough, exhaustive investigation” and that “based upon the investigation and evidence, there is no evidence supporting criminal charges.”
Asked whether, regardless of the issue of criminality, county officials would consent to provide the people of Ocean Grove with a complete account, in writing, of their investigative findings about the fire’s cause, Decker did not offer much hope.
“I’ve released all I can release,” he finally said.
On another front, Blogfinger reporter Yvette Blackman placed a call to County Fire Marshal Henry A. Stryker, III on Wednesday of last week, seeking information about his office’s investigation of the fire. She still has not heard back from Stryker.
Thank you Mary Beth for looking into this. You are the best!!!
There is no incompetence. There is no coverup. The fires were accidental, but because the evidence burned, they simply can’t give more info. That’s it. The insurance companies took the accidental ruling. There’s no arsonist running around. Until the day they can find evidence that backs up any of the rumors that are flying around — and I heard quite a few things on both days of the fires — the cases remain open.
The bigger issue here, from my viewpoint, is what the township construction guidelines allow in a building that is being constructed/renovated that does not have a fire alarm and suppression system. We are going to have to take a look at the ordinances and see where we need to beef up fire safety regulations in building construction and renovation guidelines. My own personal view is that if there is no hardwire fire alarm and suppression system in place, then heaters should not be used in a building.
Why doesn’t someone call 7 on your side… ABC channel 7. If my house burned down, I would want answers to these questions.
It seems to me that this report would have to be provided to the insurers affected, police, and any litigators (I assume at least one lawsuit must have come out of this). Surely, someone can provide a copy to the reporter.
Blogfinger is to be commended for the investigative reporting on this issue that is important to Ocean Grove. It appears that the officials responsible for the fire investigation are covering up the lack of official reporting or the incompetence of the investigators. They sound incompetent themselves. It is time that County and Neptune elected leaders hold these officials to task and tell them to stop the double talk and produce reports.
Unless it was spontaneous combustion, something had to have been the origin of that fire. Whether it was oily rags or an unattended gas heater. One thing we know for sure – it wasn’t a lightning strike. Some authority should step up to the plate here and shake some bones.