Police: NJ man arrested for starting fire near Greenwood Lake

Police say Keith Scherer, 45, of West Milford, was burning scrap lumber and other debris in a backyard on the west side of Greenwood Lake, right near the state line.

News 12 Staff

Mar 22, 2023, 4:42 PM

Updated 565 days ago

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A West Milford, New Jersey, man is facing multiple criminal charges in connection to an outdoor burn that quickly spread in the neighborhood.
Police say Keith Scherer, 45, was burning scrap lumber and other debris in a backyard on the west side of Greenwood Lake, right near the state line.
It started just after 12 p.m. Saturday and escalated to destroying a home and damaging two others.
Three firefighters were injured in that fire.
Scherer is charged with third-degree arson, third-degree criminal mischief, and three counts of aggravated assault or injury to emergency services personnel.
He was released on a summons, pending his first court appearance.
The fire marshal also fined Scherer for outdoor burning of debris.
The town and state have laws against outdoor burning for nonrecreational purposes.