Man charged with arson in Berkeley Township

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 70-year-old man has been charged with three counts of aggravated arson after allegedly setting multiple fires inside his home.

George DiPierro, of Berkeley Township, was arrested at the scene on Nov. 15 and is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Berkeley Township police and fire departments responded to a residence on Harbor Court at approximately 12:15 p.m. 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 separate rooms on the second floor, which they were able to extinguish.

An investigation by multiple agencies determined that all three fires were intentionally set using an open flame to available combustibles.

The first fire originated in the southwest corner of the residence on the first floor, while the two second-floor fires were set in separate bedrooms.

Investigators identified DiPierro, who lived at the residence, as the individual responsible for setting all three fires.

He was taken into custody without incident.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the charges.