Bound Brook Man Charged With Setting Massive 7-Alarm Fire

BOUND BROOK, NJ — A Bound Brook man was charged Tuesday with setting the massive seven-alarm fire that devastated the borough's downtown this past weekend.

Juan Hector Padilla, 28, of East Second Street in Bound Brook was arrested and charged on Monday with second-degree aggravated arson and third-degree hindering investigation apprehension/false information.

Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson said more charges will likely be added as the investigation continues.

Video surveillance from nearby businesses helped identify Padilla, Robertson said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Padilla was seen walking in the area of the Meridia II building on East Main Street several times leading up to the fire on Sunday night, Robertson said.

He was later found to be responsible for the fire, authorities said. The investigation is ongoing and looking into how the fire was set and why it was set. Robertson would not comment on whether an accelerant was used.

Robertson did note there was no personal connection between Padilla and the development.

Just as Bound Brook's downtown area was getting back onto its feet following Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a fire Sunday ripped through a new-construction apartment building complex called Meridia 2 near the train station, at 7:53 p.m. (See Related: Roads, Schools Impacted After 7-Alarm Fire Rages In Bound Brook)

The Bound Brook Fire Department, along with 36 fire companies from Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Hunterdon, and Mercer Counties, as well as the New Jersey State Forestry Service
responded to put out the fire.

Due to radiant heat and wind, the fire spread quickly throughout the building and to adjacent buildings located on Main Street.

It then spread to another apartment building across the street called the "WeMa" for West Main Street and two other adjacent buildings, including a rooming house that had six residents and another apartment building with six units, Fazen said.

Bound Brook Mayor Bob Fazen said the developers of the apartment complex will demolish both structures down to the ground and rebuild.

Demolition will not be authorized until the Prosecutor’s Office and Fire Marshal have completed their investigation of the debris field.

"A little bit about the history of Bound Brook... our history is filled with floods and fires," Bound Brook Mayor Bob Fazen said. "A phrase we have sort of learned to use over the last couple of decades. Bound Brook will rebound and we will rebuild."

• See Related: 'We Will Rebuild,' Bound Brook Mayor Says After Massive Fire

Two properties, which were totally destroyed by the fire, left 12 to 15 residents permanently displaced. Eight other properties were temporarily evacuated pending the demolition of 17-15 West Main Street. As a result, about 20 residents have been temporarily displaced, said Jasmine D. Mathis, Bound Brook's assistant administrator/deputy clerk.

Volunteers and donations are being sought to help. (See Related: Volunteers, Donations Needed To Help Victims Of Bound Brook Fire)

The Bound Brook Office of Emergency Management and CERT Program is asking for volunteers. Those interested should visit the Borough Clerks window at Borough Hall and ask for an "OEM application" to fill out and leave with the Clerks Office. An OEM representative will then contact the applicant.

Additionally, the Bound Brook Salvation Army is also working to provide food and clothing to the families displaced by the fire. They are looking for donations of clothing, blankets, personal care items and cleaning products. These things can be dropped off at the Salvation Army office at 108 Hamilton St. in Bound Brook.

Downtown Bound Brook is also looking for volunteers to help the community rebuild. Those interested can visit the volunteer page at downtownboundbrook.com or contact Knowles-Brindle at manager@downtownboundbrook.com.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bound Brook Police Department at 732-356-0800 or make a
report 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.

Watch the entire press conference below:

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