Man Sentenced for Starting East Orange Fire

A northern New Jersey man who started a fire last year in the apartment building where his former girlfriend lived has been sentenced to seven years in state prison.

Forty-one-year-old Yusuf Abdullah of Newark must serve nearly six years before he becomes eligible for parole under the sentence imposed Tuesday. But he will receive credit for the more than 15 months that he's already served.

Abdullah, who is also known as Yusuf Camp, pleaded guilty last month to aggravated arson.

He admitted to purposely setting his clothes on fire in the foyer of the East Orange building in February 2013. The fire damaged six apartments, and firefighters had to rescue several residents who were forced to flee through their apartment windows and fire escapes.

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