Prosecutor's Office: Multiple Lakewood Car Fires Apparently Started With A Cigarette

LAKEWOOD, NJ - Four vehicles parked behind the Northern Resource Center on Fourth Street were destroyed by fire in the early morning hours on Oct. 14, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

The fire apparently began with a cigarette in a privately-owned vehicle, said Al Della Fave. Investigation revealed that a woman had been smoking in the vehicle, put the cigarette in the ash tray, then fell asleep, he said.

"She awoke to find smoke and a small fire in the area of the ash tray in the vehicle," Della Fave said. "She attempted to put the fire out, but was unable to. At this time she notified the Lakewood Police Department."

Other vehicles damaged included two Meals on Wheels vehicles and one owned by Gelbstein's Bakery, he said.

Police and members of the Lakewood Fire Department responded to the blazes at 3:42 a.m at the center at 220 4th Street. They were all located behind the building in the rear of the property.

The fire was extinguished and Ocean County Fire Marshal Michael Marks, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Arson Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded.

Fire officials determined that the fire began in the area of an ash tray in the front of the passenger compartment, Della Fave said.

"The cause of the fire is accidental and improperly discarded smoking material could not be eliminated," he said.

Photo: Patch file photo