NJ.com photo 3/3/17
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net. 5/9/2017
Recently Blogfinger published a series of articles called “the Case of the Worrisome Warrington” This quote is from our March 3, 2017 post—on the day of the fire:*
“Three days ago we wrote a piece about how the Warrington project would receive official final approval this week for their site plan to turn that crappy building into a modern 21 room boutique hotel with an apartment in the basement and a basket full of variances to permit this special use, despite all the land use violations which we have documented. The Zoning Board official at the Mother Ship told us that the signing was just a formality, so we assume that it was done.”
The roaring fire that occurred that day was thought to have begun in the decrepit vacated building called ”The Warrington Hotel.” Later investigators backed off from that assessment somewhat, but now we know that it was true.
An investigation has been ongoing as to the cause of the massive fire that destroyed 7 buildings and damaged a large condominium near the ocean—the LaPierre. Nearly 100 people lost their homes.
The day after the fire, Blogfinger heard from an attorney who was looking into the matter. We understand that a number of lawsuits are in progress. One of those people who was injured in the fire is suing the owner of the building as well as the contractor who was in there for months doing some sort of demo work. They also were removing the siding on the building—which could make it easier for a fire to spread. And, there were no working fire alarms inside.
Blogfinger questioned the land use issues regarding the property including the permission to build a 21 room boutique hotel on a land-locked lot.
A federal agency was involved (ATF), but they reportedly turned their investigation over to the lead investigator, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. The fire Marshall was looking into the matter as was the State. Up to now, no results were announced.
But last night, after the Township Committee had its usual work shop (ie a secret session,) Mayor Brantley announced that the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office told him that an accelerant was found inside the Warrington. In other words, the fire was begun by an arsonist.
No other specifics are currently available, but this is obviously now a criminal investigation in addition to a fire investigation.
And, finally, some agency will likely be looking at the Neptune Township Government and how it so easily evades Land Use Laws and favors developers over the best interests of the citizens of Ocean Grove. In addition the Neptune Township governing body will probably be named as defendant in one or more of the pending lawsuits and investigations.
Other posts can be found by searching our search box at the top right of this page: “Warrington Hotel” and “March 3 fire in Ocean Grove”
JOHN BARRY “Theme From Somewhere in Time.”
In this post, we reported that the Mayor spoke about the cause of the March 3 fire at the May 8 Twp. Committee meeting.
We received a copy of the Mayor’s text from a publicist, and we wondered who wrote the Mayor’s statement in which he said that the “incendiary” fire was either intentionally caused by an “arsonist” or accidentally set by a “vagrant.”
The Mayor in his statement called the fire “an undetermined incendiary fire” and he mentioned that this information was from “the detective bureau” (It seems he was referring to the Neptune Township Police Detective Bureau)
We obtained the recording of the meeting and found out that the Mayor did indeed read from the prepared statement sent to us by Lenox Consulting, but the Mayor did not say who prepared the statement. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has made no public statements on the subject. There is a suggestion from the tape that the Twp. Attorney may have written the statement, but we don’t know.
In order to judge the credibility of what the Mayor read aloud, he needs to tell us who wrote his statement. Clearly, he did not.
The Coaster used the Mayor’s text in their front page piece on the subject. It seems they just regurgitate what is given to them.
In reviewing our interview with a fire victim on March 7, there is this line, “Mike had noticed ‘squatters’ inside the building, so he thinks that a wayward cigarette may have been responsible. But he said that he believed that arson may have caused the conflagration, and he had some other worrisome theories as well which we will not relate at this time.”
We plan to speak to him again.
“Either an arsonist deliberately or a vagrant accidentally” set the fire…please contact police with information! Sounds like they know nothing. They have ruled out lightning and spontaneous combustion. Brilliant!
The Neptune Township Committee should have insisted on a locked site, fenced in, security system on building, occasional inspections by police (perhaps twice a week around 2 am), site lighted up brightly by spotlights, all gas and electric switched off on the street when workers were not present, etc.
But don’t hold your breath on the gang of five suffering any consequences for their negligence and poor governance.
Regarding the fire, I heard that the investigators called it arson because the fire was determined to have been man made.
But they haven’t confirmed if it was malicious or just caused by vagrants keeping warm.
Editor’s note: There were workers inside that building most days during the last several months, and, as far as we know, they did not find “vagrants.”
There were also people living around there who did not report “vagrants.” I interviewed one resident at the site on Seaview Avenue. She lives down the block from the fire site and she often would walk by and check it out. She did not mention any “vagrants,” but she did report recurrent hammering due to some demo work inside. One day I went over there and found several workers. Two were outside as I stopped by. I could hear the hammering inside. There was a permit on the door which was for some demolition work inside.
I did talk to another neighbor who said that his friend, who lived adjacent to the Warrington on the Seaview side, would see strangers walk past his window. —-PG
Insurance money can be expedited if any reasonable reason is used.
The corrupt Zoning Board has been getting away with this for years.They discard ALL concerns of the citizens even though there are overwhelming negative criteria over positive ones. I have gone to a few meetings, and it was more the good-old-boys getting together then anything else.
I also hope the governing body gets their dues for ignoring all local ordinances.
Steve Lenox: In OG we don’t refer to the homeless as “vagrants” and they are provided nice accommodations with heat and indoor plumbing.
The Warrington building was gutted with no utilities. It is unlikely that a “vagrant” was staying there.
Late this afternoon, after I had posted this article, I received the following email from a person who said that he was from “Lenox Consulting.” I didn’t know that our mayor had a professional PR person. Who pays for his services and why can’t Mayor Brantley speak for himself? Here is that email:
“Following is the text of Mayor Brantley’s statement, re: fire, from last night’s meeting. Thought it might be helpful to your story to more accurately reflect what was said:
“The investigation remains open, however at this time the investigation report indicates that through the use of cognitive experiments, fire department and police data on potentially related incendiary incidents in the community, photographs, videos, witness statements, and fire scene examination itself, it is probable that either an arsonist deliberately, or a vagrant accidentally set a fire to the Warrington Hotel, in a location where fire should not otherwise be present. The investigation remains open. The detective bureau deemed it to be an undetermined incendiary fire. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Neptune Township Police Department Detective Bureau.”
Thanks!
Steve Lenox
Lenox Consulting”
PG: I am disgusted with years of silence from the Township Committee instead of being responsive to the concerns of Ocean Grove’s citizens as expressed on Blogfinger, a news source recognized by the NJ Press Association and by the NJ News Commons.
I might point out that before I posted this article, I interviewed Jack Bredin personally and I spoke by phone with someone who learned directly from the Prosecutor’s Office that evidence of arson was found at the site. This news had been kept under wraps.
Jack said that the Mayor spoke about the matter but he did not read a prepared statement.
The report we heard said that an “accelerant” was used. Do you think that the investigators believe that arson has occurred, or do you think that they believe in spontaneous combustion as the cause of the fire? Or perhaps some vagrant was there and accidently spread an accelerant around? Which version do you believe?
From the ashes and sadness let us hope Neptune is found culpable and this will be the start of fair, open governance.
Neptune Township exhibited extreme negligence in allowing the Warrington to remain a public hazard for many years. Fire and massive damage was inevitable.It is gratifying to learn that individuals governing the Township will likely be named as defendants. I hope they have individual insurance policies, as it is likely that judgements could prevail.
Time to rebuild with single family homes!