Drain Pipe Fire That Closed GSP For 8 Hours Ruled Arson: NJ State Police

BRICK, NJ — The fire that shut down the Garden State Parkway for at least eight hours Wednesday evening has been ruled an arson, New Jersey State Police said Thursday afternoon.

Detectives have determined a group of people, possibly juveniles, set a fire in a drainage culvert that runs under the Garden State Parkway from Entrance 91 north to Exit 91 south, state police said.

After they lit the fire in the culvert opening on the south side, the group was seen running into the Evergreen Woods Park apartment complex, which runs parallel to the Parkway, state police said.

The fire was reported at 5:06 p.m. and forced authorities to shut down the Parkway in both directions, with southbound traffic forced to exit at 98 in Wall Township and northbound travelers forced to exit at 89 A-B in Lakewood.

Smoke from the fire billowed across the Parkway and residents in Evergreen Woods told Patch it was so strong they could smell it inside their homes.

Hundreds of motorists were caught in lengthy backup on the Parkway's southbound lanes when the shutdown happened as commuters were heading home from work.

New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said the closure, which started just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, was still in place at 2 a.m. when he replied to an email seeking updated information. The closure was lifted sometime before 5 a.m.

Brick Township Police said the fire was extinguished and there were no injuries or property damage because of "everyone's teamwork and quick thinking," adding that in addition to the township's four fire companies and the Brick Township Police EMS, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, New Jersey State Police and Port Authority Police responded to the fire.

"Yesterday's fire was dangerous and caused significant traffic problems for several hours," police said. "We want to both acknowledge the multi-agency efforts at fighting and containing the fire and ask the community for some assistance in the ensuring arson investigation."

Anyone who may have witnessed the group setting the fire or the events leading up to it, or any other information that might aid the investigation is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office in Holmdel Station at 732-441-4576. Anonymous tips are welcome.

NOTE: This article has been updated with the arson determination and additional information provided by New Jersey State Police and Brick Township Police.

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