Man Set Mulch On Fire Outside Of Berkeley Home: Prosecutor

BERKELEY, NJ — A Berkeley man is accused of setting a mulch bed outside of a Pheasant Drive house on fire, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

John Bruno, 48, was charged with aggravated arson in connection with the Dec. 10 fire, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

It was about 7:20 a.m. Wednesday when Berkeley police and firefighters went to the Pheasant Drive home for the report of a small brush fire, Billhimer said.

The small fire on a mulch bed had already been extinguished by the fire department when emergency personnel arrived.

Investigation found that the fire's cause was incendiary by an unknown person utilizing an open flame to an ignitable liquid, Billhimer said. Bruno was identified as the person responsible.

Bruno was taken into custody at Berkeley Township Police Headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he sits pending a detention hearing.