Firefighter arrested in probe of seven fires
EAST BRUNSWICK — A probationary volunteer East Brunswick firefighter and a 23-year-old Old Bridge man were arrested Wednesday in connection with seven fires that occurred in the township starting in April.
William Swiatkowski, 18, of East Brunswick, and Robert Keir, 23, of Old Bridge were charged in connection with four brush fires, a fire in a detached garage and two car fires.
The charges came after a month-and-a-half-long investigation conducted jointly by Detective Robert Zielinski of the East Brunswick Police Department and the Fire District 1 Fire Marshall and Bureau of Fire Prevention personnel.
Swiatkowski, a probationary volunteer firefighter for the East Brunswick District 1 Fire Co. was identified as a suspect by members of the District 1 Fire Company, according to a polcie press release. Members of Fire District 1 contacted police after becoming concerned by Swiatkowski’s behavior at several suspicious brush fires.
Swiatkowski had been a member of the fire company for less than six months.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Swiatkowski was charged with six counts of conspiracy to commit arson and released on his own recognizance. Keir was charged with six counts of arson and one count of burglary.
Three of the brush fires occurred in the vicinity of Work Out World on Route 18, and the fourth occurred near Route 18 and Hillsdale Road. The garage fire occurred at a residence on Old Bridge Turnpike and the two car fires occurred at the same time at Branning Auto Group on Route 18.
All the fires occurred on separate dates between April 18 and June 18.
Gene Racz covers East Brunswick, Milltown and North Brunswick; 732-565-7306; gracz@njpressmedia.com




