LINDEN — Several suspicious fires were reported late Thursday night and Friday morning in what Mayor Derek Armstead called a "very peculiar night."

Linden police spokesman Lt. Christopher Guenther said the first fire was reported at a house with several medical offices at 809 North Wood Ave which caused the evacuation of a home next door.

About 30 minutes later a fire severely an empty house on Seymour Avenue which displaced residents of a neighboring home, according to Guenther.

As firefighters and mutual aid units responded to those fires a series of small brush fires were reported as well as a dumpster fire at the nearby Soehl Middle School that were quickly put out Guenther said, with no damage.

There was also a fire at W. 9th Avenue in Roselle at 12:21 a.m.

Fire at a home in Roselle early Friday morning
Fire at a home in Roselle early Friday morning (RLS Metro Breaking News)
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"Thankfully, there are no injuries and everyone is safe," Armstead said.

Guenther said the fires are considered "suspicious" and under investigation. It's not clear if the fires are connected, he said.

Volunteers from Red Cross New Jersey helped residents of the affected homes with temporary shelter.

 

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ.

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