By: Tracie Carter
An Ocean County man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he deliberately set a fire at an abandoned property in Plumsted Township, leaving a firefighter injured.
According to information released by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Matthew Waldman, 21, of Plumsted Township, was charged on October 11 in connection with the fire that occurred Saturday, October 10.
Authorities said firefighters and police responded to an abandoned residence on Maple Avenue at approximately 4:30 p.m., where they discovered flames spreading throughout a detached garage behind the property.
While battling the blaze, a female firefighter suffered a hand injury and was transported to Capital Health at Deborah in Browns Mills. She was treated and later released.
Investigators determined that Waldman had allegedly been staying illegally inside the abandoned residence near the garage and was responsible for starting the fire.
Waldman was charged with aggravated arson, arson, two counts of burglary, and aggravated assault on a firefighter.
He was taken into custody without incident at Plumsted Township Police Headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing.
The investigation involved the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Plumsted Township Police, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.