Update: Home Fire Possibly Started in Automobile

The fire that destroyed a family's home on the south side of Scotch Plains on Labor Day may have started inside an automobile in the garage.

Sgt. Donnell Joyce of the Scotch Plains Police Department told Patch this afternoon that investigators are currently trying to determine if the fire started within the engine compartment of one of the family's vehicles.

"We're trying to determine if in fact it was something to do with the automobile, whether it was a manufactured defect or a recall, but at this point it's undetermined," Joyce said.

The family was at their home, located at 2 Jenna Court, at the time of the fire. Joyce said the Scotch Plains Fire Department arrived at the scene very shortly after receiving a call about the fire at 7:35 p.m. 

It's believed that the fire started in the attached garage, and then spread to the interior of the home. All three of the families cars were burned and destroyed. Most of the right side of the home was also significantly damaged.

Joyce said that the fire caused damage primarily to the right side of the structure. The family has been allowed back into their home to collect a few personal items, but at this time the house is not suitable for living. Joyce said he's unsure the estimated cost of the damage.