Man charged with aggravated arson after massive fire burns home in Woodbridge, New Jersey
WOODBRIDGE, New Jersey (WABC) -- A man has been arrested for allegedly starting a massive fire that burned a home to the ground in New Jersey.
Anthony Burke, 57, is charged with several counts of aggravated arson, aggravated assault and obstruction in connection to the fire.
Woodbridge Police responded to the scene on McGuire Street just after 3 a.m. on Thursday for reports of a house on fire.
Police on scene quickly suspected the house fire was an act of arson and began their investigation.
Police later encountered the suspect and tried to talk with him, but a struggled ensued, injuring four officers. They were taken to the hospital for treatment along with the suspect, who reportedly injured himself while setting the fire.
According to officials, Burke is believed to own the home that caught on fire, which will likely be taken down. Five other homes were also damaged because of the fire.
Residents on the block were still sleeping when police knocked on their door and told them to evacuate.
"The fire was so bad at the time, we had no idea what happened" said eyewitness Anton Ignatious. "All of the sudden we hear the banging on the door, the police came and banging on all these doors, and we came out and see all these massive flames over there."
Many residents who had to evacuate sat outside in their cars and waited until they were allowed to go back to their homes around 6 a.m.
Carole Mayti was one of the residents forced to evacuate. She was asleep in her bedroom next to the home believed to be owned by Burke.
"I'm sad that he's so ill that he would do something like this. It breaks my heart. I could have lost my life," Mayti said. "But you know what, you have to find some kind of peace."
Mayti has lived in the home for 44 years and lost her husband in September. She kept his cherished ring next to her bed, but left it behind when she fled from her burning home in slippers and a robe.
"A nice police officer went inside my house while I was in the hospital being treated for smoke inhalation, and he retrieved it (the ring) for me," she said. "It means the world to me."
Mayti has lost everything. She had already begun preparing for Christmas.
"I had already shopped for all the Christmas presents for grandkids and great-grandkids. We were wrapping them because I'm older and I wanted to take my time to get them done," she said.
She is receiving an outpouring of support from family and friends and holds no grudges against Burke.
"I just wish he knew that he almost killed me too, I hope someday he realizes that... that it could have been me too," Mayti said.
Mayti's spirit is lifting her above the tragic loss of her home. She suffered smoke inhalation but is already recovering and says her strength comes from the heavens above.
"God says forgive, what can I do, I'm a Christian. I just hope that he finds himself in this life that he has to walk," she said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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