Crime & Safety
2 Fires Probed, School Shut Down For Violations In Lakewood
Fires in a stairwell and on the 2nd floor were extinguished, but the school for 14- to 16-year-olds had numerous violations, police said.
LAKEWOOD, NJ — A pair of fires at a school on Prospect Street on Thursday are under investigation and the school itself is shut down after numerous building violations were found, authorities said Friday.
The fire at the school, which educates 14- to 16-year-old boys, was reported about 3:15 p.m. Thursday, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.
Police and firefighters found fires on the stairwell and on the second floor of the building and they were extinguished, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
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The fire is under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Arson Squad, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Billhimer said.
Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said the Fire Marshal's office and the Lakewood Township Inspector's office noted numerous building violations.
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As a result of the fire and the violations, the building was deemed unsafe and closed until the violations are corrected and the investigation is concluded, Staffordsmith said.
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