Arrest Made in Connection With Morris Ave. Fire

Springfield police have arrested 30-year-old Springfield resident Nathaniel Hunt  in connection with Tuesday's fire on Morris Ave. Hunt, who lived in the apartment where the fire occurred, was charged with aggravated arson and criminal mischief. He is currently being held at Union County Jail in Elizabeth.

His bail has been set at $150,000.

Police could not say why Hunt would have set his own apartment on fire. Emergency reports said the police had responded to a dispute at the apartment earlier that day; officials at the scene of the fire Tuesday would not comment on those reports. Springfield Police Sgt. Ed McNany said that Hunt was the only occupant of the apartment.

Shortly after the fire was extinguished, the Springfield Police Department initiated an arson investigation. The Union County Arson Squad, the State of New Jersey Fire Marshall and the Union County Sheriffs Department assisted in the investigation. Emergency vehicles were present outside the apartment building up until late last night.

Sgt. Ed McNany of the Springfield police force said in a statement that additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.