Fire at Six Flags Great Adventure safari one of seven brush fires; Arson suspected

JACKSON, N.J. (WABC) -- Authorities are investigating what caused a fire that destroyed an animal enclosure in the safari park at New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure Monday evening.

The fire broke out just after 10 p.m. in the enclosure and was one of at least six brush fires outside the safari park area in Jackson, New Jersey.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says two animals described as a type of antelope were in the enclosure, but escaped unharmed before the flames quickly spread through.

No animals or people were injured. The fires were extinguished within 20 minutes.

The six brush fires in a three hour time span throughout this Jackson community has neighbors now keeping a watchful eye out for anything suspicious.

"The guy next door called and said call 911, the fire department, your leaves are on fire," said Rich Lee.

A watchful neighbor and quick thinking prevented flames from creeping up to Lee's doorstep Monday night after someone set fire to a pile of leaves in his yard.

"It could have been worse if it hadn't gotten contained because it could have caught trees and things like that so you don't know," he said.

Who set the fire and why are just a few of many questions police and arson investigators are now looking into.

The biggest blaze occurred at Six Flags inside the animal shelter. A connection between the back to back fires hasn't been confirmed but the suspicious series has people who live here alarmed.

"You wonder, you're supposed to put your leaves out but then someone thinks this is funny and it could be quite dangerous," said one resident.

Neighbors say the flames set to a pile a leaves here along Rachel Court were several feet high.

"They got this one quick because somebody happened to be passing by, the danger is if the winds, just so happens it wasn't windy but if it was windy then we don't know what, there's all kind of dry leaves all around," said a resident.

A possible suspect description was provided from witnesses. The possible suspect was described as a white male in his late thirties to early forties with possible facial hair, wearing a baggy dark colored sweatshirt and riding a BMX-style bike.

Six Flags Great Adventure released a statement saying, "Our local fire department has extinguished a fire in one of our safari barns. No animals were injured, and all are safely inside the safari. The safety of our animals and team members is our top priority."

The Jackson Police Department detailed the fires:

- At 7:05 pm, Officer Joe Candido responded to the report of a fire on Rachel Court, which is located off of North Boston Road. A pile of leaves which had been collected at the curbside was lit on fire.

- At 7:08 pm, Officers Bill Simon and Jeff Henba responded to a report of a pile of leaves and brush lit on fire in front of a residence on East Pleasant Grove Road.

- At 7:14 pm, Officer Joe Candido responded to the report fires in piles of leaves placed curbside to the left and right of the caller's residence on East Pleasant Grove Road.

- At 7:52 pm, Officer Andy Falzarano responded to the report of a brush fire near the intersection of Beatrice Lane and Perrineville Road. The caller reported a pile of leaves and brush on fire.

- At 7:53 pm, Officer Darin McClain responded to the report of a brush fire on Willys Lane, which is located off of Perrineville Road. The caller reported a pile of leaves and brush on fire near the residence.

- At 10:11 pm, Officers Andy Falzarano, Shannon Foote, Fred Meabe, Ed Travisano and Sgt. Frank Mendez responded to the report of a structure fire at the Six Flags Safari in the area of Reed Road. It was discovered that an animal barn on Six Flags property was fully engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished by fire department personnel, no animals were reported injured. Detective Scott Conover, the Ocean County Fire Marshal and officers from the Ocean County C.I.U. unit arrived to investigate the incident. During that time, a news helicopter over the scene also reported several small fires approximately a quarter mile from the scene. Fire personnel responded and extinguished multiple brush/leaf fires.

The investigation is currently ongoing and anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to contact Jackson police.