Homeless Man Arrested at Scene of Fire

Chatham Borough Police and Fire Departments responded to reports a fire on Sunday at approximately 6:52 p.m.

Police responded to the area of Commerce Street Sunday evening after receiving reports of large amounts of black smoke in the area, police said.

Upon their arrival, police found that a garbage truck belonging to Pryer Disposal was engulfed in flames, according to the police report.

Frankie Andrews, 47, a homeless man, was on the scene attempting to put out the fire with buckets of water, police said.

The Chatham Borough Fire Department was able to extringuish the fire in aboout 10 minutes, police said.

Andrews, who was intoxicated according to police, stated that he was collecting aluminum when the truck caught on fire for unknown reasons, police said. Andrews told police that he was not using any type of tools or equipment that would have caused the fire, according to the police report.

Andrews was acting disorderly and began to interfere with the investigation, and at one point picked up a brick and threatened to throw it at the officers, police said.

Andrws was immediately arrested by Officer Joseph Crecca and was charged with disorderly conduct, police said. He was charged and released on his own recognizance pending further court action, according to police.

William Pryer, the owner of the truck, was satisfied that the fire was accidental and did not wish to pursue the matter, police said.