Prosecutors Treating Linwood Ave. Fire as Intentional

Although no arrests have been made, authorities are treating the Sunday morning fire at 647 Linwood Ave. as a criminal matter, according to Jason Laughlin, a spokesperson for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

"It does appear to be intentional and we're still investigating," Laughlin told Patch in an email.

The case work is being coordinated among the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the and .

"We’re going to list it as a fire that was intentionally set," says Collingswood Fire Chief Keith Davis. "There are multiple points of origin, so that helps to determine that it’s an incendiary fire."

Next-door neighbor Bea Beauchemin, who placed the emergency call Sunday morning that alerted authorities to the fire, .

The property, which has been on the market since late March, is listed as an estate sale with Weichert Realty.

The website interFIRE.org, a professional resource for arson investigators, describes incendiary, or planned, fires as beginning in basements, attics, closets or anywhere near a heat source.

In one picture of the property, a propane grill is visible on the back deck, and large piles of fresh-cut timber have been deposited beside the structure, reportedly by grounds maintenance persons.

Davis told Patch Tuesday that he didn't believe the woodpiles were considered relevant to the investigation. He also said the borough hasn't seen an intentionally set fire in at least three years.