'Suspicious' Fire Damages 3 Homes In North Plainfield: Police

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Authorities are questioning a person in connection with a "suspicious" fire Wednesday morning that damaged three homes and displaced two families in North Plainfield, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

The three-alarm fire broke out about 2:40 a.m. at a home on Maple Avenue, authorities said.

Emergency crews from Somerset, Union and Middlesex counties responded to put out the fire.

All of the residents in the homes were uninjured. One firefighter sustained minor injuries, was taken to an area hospital and has since been released.

Three homes were damaged, and two families were displaced as a result.

The origin and cause of the fire remained under investigation. Authorities have deemed the fire suspicious.

Anyone with information relating to the fire is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

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

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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