5 Juveniles Charged In Bergen County Arson Blaze: Prosecutor

Five juveniles were charged in connection with a fire that damaged a vacant building at the Curtiss Wright complex in Wood-Ridge Tuesday.

The Hasbrouck Heights Police Department assisted with an investigation that led to authorities filing delinquency charges of arson, failure to report or control a fire, and criminal trespass against two of the juveniles, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

The other three juveniles were each charged on delinquency complaints of failure to report or control a fire and criminal trespass, Molinelli said.

The Wood-Ridge Police Department received a report of a fire inside the building Tuesday just after 1 p.m. When they examined the scene, authorities believed that the fire may have been set intentionally and the prosecutor’s Arson Squad assisted Wood-Ridge Police detectives with the ensuing investigation.

During the investigation, authorities identified the five juveniles who were present when the fire was set, Molinelli said. They all fled the area after the fire was started.

The juveniles were released to their parents’ custody pending their first appearance in Juvenile Court.