The March 9 fire damaged his neighbor's home, too.
RUNNEMEDE -- A homeowner has been charged with setting a fire in his house earlier this month.
While battling the fire at 159 E. 3rd Ave. on March 9, one firefighter was hospitalized for exhaustion, according to a statement from police.
The Courier-Post reported that Schaff initially claimed that the fire started when a candle caused a curtain to catch on fire.
The circumstances of the fire seemed suspicious, police said, so the Runnemede Police Detective Division and an agent from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Fire Investigation Unit began investigating right away, with assistance from the Runnemede Fire Department.
Crews Face Heavy Fire Conditions at Runnemede (NJ) House Fire - https://t.co/8rPpZHxYdg https://t.co/2XWvN12FfD pic.twitter.com/d0cXmdacHT
-- Fire Fighter (@firefighternews) March 22, 2017
On Monday, police arrested the homeowner, David Schaff, 43, on arson charges. Police said he was remanded to the Camden County Jail, but jail records show he is no longer held there.
The fire ultimately damaged not only Schaff's home, but also caused extensive exterior damage to a neighbor's house, police said.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.