Fires At Johnson's Pit In Berkeley Under Investigation: Prosecutor

BERKELEY, NJ — A brush fire at Johnson's Pit that was determined to be intentionally set is under investigation, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, Berkeley police and the Beachwood Fire Department responded to a brush fire in a wooded area of Johnson's Pit, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Emergency personnel extinguished a small brush fire, and an investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshals Office and New Jersey State Forest Fire Service determined that there were three separate fires, including one in an unoccupied tent, Billhimer said.

The fire had three separate points of origin and they were intentionally set, Billhimer said, according to a thorough investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Arson Unit, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

An open flame to available combustibles cannot be eliminated as to the cause, Billhimer said.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information concerning this fire is asked to contact Det. Christopher Bonner of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office at 732-929-2027, extension 2449, or Det. William Sommers of the Berkeley Township Police Department at 732-341-1132, extension 2111.