Bergen Record
By ROBIN URIS, Staff Writer
Date: 08-19-1997, Tuesday
Fires broke out at long-term care facilities in Westwood and Oradell on
Monday, and prosecutors are investigating the possibility they were set
by the same person.
The first fire broke out at 9:47 a.m. in the closet of a patient's room
at the Valley Health Care Center on Old Hook Road, Westwood, Assistant
Bergen County Prosecutor Ralph Lilore said.
The alarm sounded and a sprinkler soon doused the fire, but arson
investigators spent much of Monday combing the 120-bed facility for
clues. Lilore would not say specifically why he suspected arson.
A second fire was reported at Mediplex of Oradell on Kinderkamack Road,
Oradell, at 10:22 a.m., Lilore said. This time the fire started in a
storage room on the ground floor of the two-story, brick building.
The fire never spread from the storage room, and Lilore would not say
whether accelerants were found at the scene.
No one was injured in either fire, and no patients had to be evacuated,
Lilore said.
"We are investigating the possibility that these two fires are
connected," Lilore said. "And we believe they may have been
intentionally set. We'll know more later this week, after our
investigation."
Chris Asmann-Finch, an administrator at Valley Health Care Center, said
no added precautions were being taken at the facility, which is home to
patients of all ages who need round-the-clock medical care.
"We have appropriate security in place right now," Asmann-Finch said.
"Until we've identified the source of the fire, we don't think any extra
measures are necessary."
Visitors to the facility must sign in and show identification, Asmann-Finch
said. In addition, the clinic is equipped with fire alarms and
sprinklers.
"The residents are safe and secure," she said, adding that there have
been no fires there before.
Administrators at Mediplex of Oradell also said they are taking no extra
precautions. The 154-bed clinic also is a no-smoking building, and
visitors are required to check in at the front desk. Patients there
either need long-term care or have a temporary medical condition that
requires 24-hour care.
"There's nothing more we can do; this is a very secure place," said
administrator Sarah Spellman. "We just have to wait and see what the
fire investigators say."
Officials at both facilities said they have no connection, either in
ownership or work force
