Police confirm St. Georges Ave fire was arson

(Taken about 7 a.m. today)

Rahway police today confirmed that the Jan. 4 fire that destroyed a St. Georges Avenue apartment complex under construction was arson.

“We determined it was an arson within a few days but weren’t prepared at that time to release that information,” Police Chief John Rodger said in response to another of our inquiries. He declined to go into further detail about the investigation. “Other than telling you that it was declared an arson, there isn’t a lot I can discuss about the fire,” he said.

(Taken about 7:30 p.m. today)

The 50-unit development, dubbed Brookside at Rahway, broke ground more than a year ago and was nearly completed, with leasing expected to begin as early as this spring. Instead, demolition of the three-story building started this week and could take as much as a month to complete. Jim Sisto of Fanwood-based United Excavating/Sisto Realty said he plans to rebuild after the structure is demolished down to the foundation and steel.

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0 thoughts on “Police confirm St. Georges Ave fire was arson”

  1. "Jim Sisto of Fanwood-based United Excavating/Sisto Realty said he plans to rebuild after the structure is demolished down to the foundation and steel."Pure speculation, but I suspect union sabotage. Build it, burn it down, let the developer collect insurance money, repeat; good way to stay employed in this economy.

  2. "Your a tool mathew." Great rebuttal."Thats the kind of b.s. that gets guys like scott walker in power."I don't see what Wisconsin has to do with a fire in Rahway. If you are bitter about Chris Christie, at least keep it relevant to NJ.Regarding the fire, I clearly stated that my opinion was speculation. But I think it's pretty simple; look to see who benefits and who had a motive, and you'll usually figure out who likely did it. If the developer pocketed the insurance money and walked away without rebuilding it, I would say it's just as likely that the developer was responsible for the fire. But if the developer is going to use the money to rebuild it, I don't see any real benefit to him.I know. You're shocked, shocked, to think that anyone could suspect the spotless NJ construction unions of being corrupt.

  3. Your opinion is an attack on unions plain and simple. And your union busting mentality fits right in with the soon to be recalled wisconsin government. According to your flawed logic anybody who would profit could be to blame right? So the first thing you do is blame the unions. But if you had any idea of what you were talking about you would know that those buildings were modular and the manufacturers of those buildings would profit. The same people who brainwashed you into hating the middle class even though you undoubtedly belong to it. And, fyi, christie hasnt done anything like walker has , he just got the ball rolling on about 2000 union construction jobs yesterday so im loving his a$$ right now.

  4. Did Captain Obvious help solve this caper? Was the Mystery Machine spotted downtown? Nice detective work, Rahway PD, this Bud's for you.

  5. "But if you had any idea of what you were talking about you would know that those buildings were modular and the manufacturers of those buildings would profit … christie hasnt done anything like walker has, he just got the ball rolling on about 2000 union construction jobs yesterday so im loving his a$$ right now."Ruh-roh!Sounds like someone knows an awful lot about the details of those torched apartments and is a little touchy about anyone casting aspersions on Uncle Junior and the rest of the NJ construction unions. And is giddy about new union construction jobs in NJ … I don't claim to know if, or to what extent, the toasted apartment complex was "modular" or not, but I'm pretty confident that whatever company built any of those modular pieces (if any) was (a) probably located in China and (b) has bigger fish to fry than burning down one little apartment complex in Rahway, NJ. Has there been a nationwide outbreak of mysterious buildings burning down for construction jobs that use "modular" pieces from that manufacturer? If not, then again, look for the most simple explanation for the fire: construction union criminality.I keep hearing about all Rahway going forward with all these expensive boondoggle construction jobs on "arts" projects, spending millions on the backs of the middle class who pay the taxes around here just to fatten the wallets of the corrupt officials and unions who get these sweet contracts. And you talk about hating the middle class.Crooks.I wonder how expensive the contract will be to have some union put up an ugly chain-link fence around the burnt out shell of these apartment buildings so they can sit on St. George for years as Rahway's latest eyesore.

  6. Im going to take it for granted that you are not in any building trade or read popular mechanics. That building was erected in a week once the foundation and grading was completed. And guess what mathew ? Those are still there ! So i guess the crane operators risked 100 attempted murder charges among arson charges for a week of work. Now that makes sense ! And the kicker is i think the job was non union anyway. And i like the thought of building modulars in china. Are you serious ? You can call us whatever you want because your kind are jealous people. You say how is it possible these neanderthals make more than me when i went to college ?! They smoke cigarettes and curse ! But the fact is we are highly skilled workers and are responsible for building the country in wich you live. Go ahead and pay your student loans and scratch away with the rest of your paper pushing rats. I hope your job gets outsourced next so you can feel the pain of the real middle class that has been decimated by your mentality. Now its coming for you guys and i have no sympathy for you have shown none.

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