Police: Memorial School fire considered ‘suspicious’

EAST BRUNSWICK — The fire that caused extensive damage to Memorial Elementary School on July 10 has now been labeled suspicious, and are looking for those responsible for setting it.

Township police said this week that they have conducted “an exhaustive investigation” into the 4:45 p.m. fire, working in conjunction with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and East Brunswick fire officials.

“Based on the physical evidence recovered at the scene, as well as information developed through numerous interviews, the fire was determined to be suspicious in nature,” police said in a press release.

Police are continuing to work on identifying those responsible for the fire, which rendered the Innes Road school uninhabitable at least for the current school year. The school district is leasing the former Corpus Christi School in South River and housing the Memorial students and staff there. The lease is for two years, in the event Memorial is not operational for the 2009-2010 school year.

Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro said she met with township Director of Public Safety Barry Roberson in late August to discuss the status of the fire and learned that investigators had ruled out the possibility of an electrical cause and determined it to be suspicious in nature. She noted during her most recent superintendent’s report that East Brunswick Detective Kevin Zebro was leading the investigation and conducting interviews.

“It is our hope that his investigation finds the person or persons responsible for this grievous act,” Magistro said. Police and school officials asked that anyone with information about the fire contact Detective Zebro of the East Brunswick Department of Public Safety’s Investigative Division at 732-390-6966.

Brian Donahue can be reached at ebsent@gmnews.com.