Arson Officials Investigate Fire at Old Prison Annex

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Arson Squad is investigating a suspicious fire that broke out Saturday evening on the second floor of the former Essex County Jail Annex in North Caldwell.

In a statement released Monday, North Caldwell Fire Chief John D'Ascensio said the department received a report of smoke coming from one of the jail's buildings at about 6:20 p.m.

After cutting the locks from an exterior gate to gain entry to the site, firefighters determined the smoke was coming from the second floor above the cafeteria, D'Ascensio said.

However, firefighters had to force their way into that portion of the building where the fire was contained to a recreational room where piles of old records were set on fire, D'Ascensio said.

"Security was breached, but we're not exactly sure how they got in there," D'Ascensio said. "We needed to force our way through because we're going to take the more conventional way through a door and not climb a fence or climb through windows, which may have been done to set the fire."

While only smoke was detected from the exterior, firefighters encountered flames once inside the recreational room, according to D'Ascensio, who said no significant damage was done to the building and a burning odor was smelt by some of those in the area as much as an hour before the call came into the department.

D'Ascensio said another fire of "suspicious nature" occurred at the site several years ago, but North Caldwell Police Chief Mark Deuer said his department hasn't received many calls of recent trespassing.

"In the past two months, we've had one case where we had a couple of kids walk up there from Caldwell," Deuer said. "We were alerted pretty much immediately by some residents in the area. We went over there and picked them up and called the parents to take them home."

D'Ascensio is unsure how access was gained or possible motive for Saturday night's incident.

According to D'Ascensio, since there was no on-site water supply, firefighters shuttled the necessary supply from the fire apparatus tanks.

In addition to North Caldwell, firefighters from West Caldwell, Essex Fells and Cedar Grove responded to the scene, which was cleared by 8 p.m., D'Ascensio said.

While the West Essex First Aid Squad responded as a precaution, no injuries occurred, D'Ascensio said.

Anyone with information on the fire should call the North Caldwell Police Department at 973-226-0800.