2003 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

March 11, 2003

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Gloucester City Police Chief William Johnson Sr. today announced that the investigation into the fatal house fire in Gloucester City, N.J., on July 4, 2002, has uncovered no criminal conduct and that no charges will be filed in connection with the case.

Based on extensive and comprehensive investigation, which included the assistance of the New Jersey State Police Arson Unit and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the fire was ruled accidental.

The investigation indicates the fire started somewhere in the living room on the first floor, in the area of the couch where resident Frank Slack told investigators he fell asleep in the late night hours of July 3, 2002. Experts who studied the scene in the 200 block of North Broadway say the fire smoldered slowly before igniting, consistent with fires resulting from careless discard of smoking materials. However, damage to the interior of the home was so extensive that physical evidence is not conclusive. Therefore, while careless smoking is considered a possible cause, no definitive cause was established.

There was no indication of any accelerant or other sign of arson.

Sarubbi said, "It's important to understand that this investigation started as a rescue effort in a frantic attempt to save the lives of the three children who perished and ultimately to save the lives of the three heroic firefighters.

"Because of that effort, the handling of the scene was entirely different than in a case where the only goal is to determine cause and origin. Nevertheless, the work done by dozens of trained investigators from a variety of agencies was of the highest quality."

Sarubbi indicated that the scope of the investigation was limited to determining whether criminal offenses were committed by any person, and if so, whether the evidence would support a successful prosecution. In this regard, he stated, "New Jersey does not have a negligent homicide statute. In order to pursue charges, it is necessary to be able to prove purposeful, knowing or reckless conduct and to further show that such conduct was responsible for the deaths of the victims.

"After painstaking review of all available evidence and applicable law, we determined that we were not close to meeting that standard in this case."

The Prosecutor said his office had been awaiting an expert's report, which was delivered at the end of last month, before making a determination and announcing the results of the investigation.

"As anxious as we were to complete the investigation into this horrible tragedy, we had to be sure that we had the benefit of all relevant information prior to making a judgment," Sarubbi said.

The fire was reported at 1:35 a.m. on July 4, 2002, at 200 North Broadway, one half of a side-by-side duplex consisting of 200 and 202. Officials responding to the scene were advised that there were residents trapped inside 200. The fire had also spread to the adjoining dwelling at 202. After firefighters were able to partially extinguish the blaze, eight firefighters entered 202 North Broadway in an effort to rescue the girls. The girls - 3-year-old twins Claudia and Colletta Slack and their 5-year-old sister, Alexandra Slack - were killed.

Shortly after firefighters entered the building, it partially collapsed, trapping the eight firefighters under debris. Five were freed and rescued.

Three firefighters were killed: Assistant Camden County Fire Marshall John D. West, 40, of Mount Ephraim; Mount Ephraim Fire Chief James E. Sylvester of Mount Ephraim; and Gloucester City firefighter Thomas G. Stewart III, 30, of Gloucester City.

Sarubbi praised the courage and selfless dedication of the fallen firefighters and expressed his deepest sympathies and respect for their survivors.

"These men are heroes in the truest sense of the word," Sarubbi said. "They sacrificed their lives in a gallant effort to save three small children. What they did that day will never be forgotten. They serve as an inspiration to public servants and a reminder to the public of the extraordinary risks embraced every day by firefighters and law enforcement officers in our communities."