For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2024

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information regarding the investigation into the three-alarm fire that occurred on Lawton Avenue in Cliffside Park, NJ, on Monday, December 16, 2024. This joint investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Cliffside Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Marc Marano.

On Monday, December 16, 2024, at 6:21 p.m., the Cliffside Park Police Department and Cliffside Park Fire Department, along with mutual aid from surrounding agencies, responded to a three-alarm fire inside a multi-family, private residence on Lawton Street. Upon arrival, first responders located two occupants of the residence with serious injuries as a result of the fire. The residents, a 58-year-old female and 33-year-old male, were able to evacuate the structure prior to the arrival of first responders. Both victims were transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with severe burns sustained from the fire. The male victim was later transported to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ for further treatment.

The Cliffside Park Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and requested assistance from the Bergen County Arson Task Force. Detectives and arson investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office responded to the scene on the evening of December 16, 2024, and initiated an investigation in conjunction with the Cliffside Park Police Department, Cliffside Park Fire Department, and Cliffside Park Fire Prevention Bureau. The investigation conducted by the Bergen County Arson Squad and local fire officials into the fire revealed that it does not appear suspicious in nature.

Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Cliffside Park Police Department, Cliffside Park Fire Department, and the surrounding Fire Departments that supplied mutual-aid assistance during the response to this fire. Additionally, Prosecutor Musella thanks the Hackensack Fire Department and the Northvale Police Department for their participation in the Bergen County Arson Task Force.