BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 70-year-old man has been charged with three counts of aggravated arson in connection with fires at a residence on Friday.
George DiPierro, of Berkeley Township, was arrested after investigators determined he intentionally set three separate fires inside his home on Harbor Court, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Berkeley Township police and fire departments responded to the residence at approximately 12:15 p.m. Friday for a report of a residential fire.
Emergency personnel observed smoke on the first floor and a fire that appeared to have been extinguished.
Firefighters discovered two additional fires in rooms on the second floor, which they were able to extinguish.
An investigation by multiple agencies revealed the fire on the first floor originated in the southwest corner of the residence and was incendiary in nature, caused by an unknown person using an open flame on available combustibles.
The two fires on the second floor originated in separate bedrooms and were also determined to be incendiary, caused by an unknown person using an open flame on available combustibles.
The investigation identified DiPierro, who lived at the residence, as the individual responsible for setting all three fires.
DiPierro was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is being held pending a detention hearing.
