A man in South Brunswick is facing charges after allegedly setting his girlfriend’s parents’ home ablaze following a dispute. Leonard Jones, 50, is accused of starting the fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning, causing the occupants to flee as the flames rapidly consumed the property.
The incident occurred on Old Beekman Road, where Jones had been arguing with his girlfriend. According to the South Brunswick Police Department, officers were initially called to the scene because Jones refused to leave the property. However, while en route, they received a second emergency call reporting that the house was on fire.
The fire quickly spread through the single-family home, forcing all four occupants, including Jones, to evacuate. Despite the intensity of the blaze, all residents managed to escape unharmed.
Elise Campanella, a neighbor, recounted how one of the residents alerted her to the fire before the arrival of the firefighters. She described the fire as “insane” and expressed her fear that it would spread to her own home through the trees.
“It was quite extensive and my fear was that it was going to come from the trees and then fall on top of my house. It was insane,” Campanella told local media.
Jones was apprehended outside the burning house and has been charged with aggravated arson and domestic violence. The incident has left the community in shock, as they grapple with the aftermath of the destructive fire.
The South Brunswick Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, the residents of the house are being assisted by local community organizations as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives.