Man Set Fire To Perth Amboy Home, Injuring 5 People, Including Baby

PERTH AMBOY, NJ — A Perth Amboy man was charged with setting fire to a residential home Tuesday night, injuring five people including a two-month-old baby who had to be hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation.

At 10 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to a home on fire on Prospect Street following the report of fire. Officers ultimately located all five victims: A 25-year-old man, 25-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man, 49-year-old woman and a 2-month-old baby girl, all who lived there and were taken to the hospital for burns and inhaling smoke.

Police say Gerardo Rosario-Vasquez, 46, of Perth Amboy, unlawfully entered the building and set fire to the structure. Rosario-Vasquez was charged and arrested for first-degree Attempted Murder, second-degree Aggravated Arson, and first-degree Home Invasion.

He is presently in custody at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston.

This case was investigated by Detective Pablo Vargas of the Perth Amboy Police Department and Detective Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.