Somerset County Prosecutor Investigates Somerville Apartment Fire

SOMERVILLE, NJ — The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the cause of a massive fire, which caused over $16 million in damages, to an apartment building in Somerville on Friday.

The SCPO Fire Investigation Unit (FIU) along with the Somerville Department of Fire Safety are now investigating the origin and cause of the fire. No determination has been made at this time, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson said.

The four-alarm fire broke out at the 88-unit Parcview Place apartments on the corner of Parcview Lane and Haynes Street in Somerville on Friday around 9:30 a.m. Read More: Massive Fire Rips Through New Somerville Apartments

Billows of smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters worked until the night to contain the fire and make sure hot spots were no longer present.

Various workers and contractors were inside the structure at the time of the fire but were all safely evacuated by responding Somerville Police Officers. No injuries were reported.

The apartment complex was one of two buildings constructed at the site. The adjacent building is partially occupied and did not sustain any damage as a result of the fire.

Multiple fire departments responded from Bound Brook, Finderne, Green Knoll, Hillsborough, Liberty Corner, Raritan, Somerset, Warren, Flagtown, East Franklin, Lyons VA, Middlebush, and Peapack-Gladstone. Multiple Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene from Somerville, Martinsville, Green Knoll, Branchburg, Bradley Gardens and Robert Wood Johnson - Barnabas.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, or the Somerville Police Department at 908-725-0331 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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