3 Ridgewood Boys Started Fire Near Glen Rock Border: Police

GLEN ROCK, NJ — Three boys ages 8-13 are responsible for starting a brush fire near the Ridgewood/Glen Rock border on Sunday afternoon, police said Monday.

Glen Rock police responded just after 2 p.m. Sunday to a wooded area behind Demarest Street, between Faber Field and the Ridgewood border, said Chief Dean Ackermann Monday.

READ MORE: 1 Person Treated, 2 Pets Die In Franklin Lakes Home Fire On Saturday

READ MORE: Man, Woman Die In Kearny House Fire Friday

The fire was considered suspicious, so police notified the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad, police said.

A nearby resident said kids were seen leaving the area.

"Three juveniles matching the given description were located and taken into custody for questioning," police said. "It was determined that the youths, three boys aged 8, 9, and 13 from Ridgewood, were involved in starting the fire and were released to their parents."

The Glen Rock Detective Bureau and the Glen Rock Juvenile Officer will follow up with the kids and parents, police said.

"The matter will be handled informally in accordance with New Jersey’s Juvenile Justice reforms," police said.

Bergen County has a Juvenile Fire Prevention Program, the police noted.

"The Bergen County Juvenile Fire Prevention Program (BCJFPP) is an early intervention program for youth up to the age of 18 displaying recurring interest and/or engagement in firesetting behavior," says a description. "The goal of the program is to reduce the overall problem of firesetting by working with juvenile firesetters to identify underlying issues and provide intervention to minimize firesetting behaviors."

A number of people and pets have lost their lives in house fires in North Jersey in just the past five days, including in Lyndhurst, Kearny, and Franklin Lakes.