Efforts to fight a warehouse fire have prompted the highway closure south of Brooks Boulevard.

HILLSBOROUGH -- All lanes of Route 206 were closed late Friday morning as firefighters continue to fight a blaze at Veterans Industrial Park.

A Hillsborough Police dispatcher confirmed at 11:30 a.m. that the highway is closed because firetrucks  are using the highway as a staging area and water turning to ice. The dispatcher had no indication of when the highway would reopen.

The fire broke out in the warehouse complex on Thursday afternoon and has continued to burn all night and into Friday.

Warehouse blaze: What we know, what we don't know

Traffic was being detoured in both directions at Camplain Road and Brooks Boulevard. The highway was closed Thursday evening as well, but was open earlier Friday morning, before being closed again. It reopened shortly after 4 p.m. Friday.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.

People are continuing to share photos and videos of the massive warehouse fire in Hillsborough.

HILLSBOROUGH -- As hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the massive warehouse fire at Veterans Industrial Park on Route 206, area residents and commuters continue to share their photos and videos on social media of thick black smoke that can be seen for miles.

Hillsborough Township police asked this morning that residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook. 

AT&T fraud investigators in New Jersey helped identify Muhammad Qasmani, who admitted laundering nearly $20 million in proceeds.

CNS Photo  

NEWARK -- A Pakistani man Thursday admitted his role in a massive hacking scheme that broke into business telephone systems, found unused numbers and directed them to dial into premium telephone lines controlled by a criminal organization.

Muhammad Sohail Qasmani, 47, formerly of Bangkok, Thailand, remained in prison without bail after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden. 

Federal prosecutors said the conspirators racked up $19.6 million in bogus charges from 2008 through 2012. 

Qasmani acknowledged that as part of his role in the thefts, he would launder the funds into accounts in at least 10 Asian and European accounts. 

Who's on the FBI's most wanted list in New Jersey?

According to court records, the scheme involved hacking into business telephone systems. Another Pakistani, Noor Aziz, 53, of Karachi is charged in the scheme and authorities said he was the leader.  The men identified unused lines, then reprogrammed the systems to make calls to phony premium telephone lines such as adult chat lines and psychic hotlines, charging the calls to those businesses. 

Qasmani was arrested in 2014 when he arrived in Los Angeles on a flight from Bangkok. 

Aziz was charged by indictment in 2012 and is still a fugitive.

According to court records, AT&T paid the phony companies set up by the group for the phone calls and collected the costs from the businesses that got hacked. The case was brought to federal court in New Jersey as AT&T has fraud detection centers in Somerset and Middlesex counties, according to court records. 

The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge to which Qasmani pleaded carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

He is scheduled to be sentenced May 17. 

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The weather continues to be a problem for the firefighters on scene Watch video

UPDATE: Old sprinklers, hydrants to blame at Hillsborough warehouse blaze

HILLSBOROUGH -- Firefighters are in for a long haul as the massive warehouse fire at Veterans Industrial Park continues to burn, sending up large plumes of smoke that's visible for miles around.

"I would hope to see significantly less smoke by this evening," Chief Fire Marshal Chris Weniger said at a press briefing Friday morning. "Beyond that, I'd imagine that it's going to be several days before we're done."

The fire began just before 3 p.m. Thursday and quickly escalated, drawing companies from as many as five counties.

"We're certainly appreciative of all the work our local firefighters, as well as surrounding towns have done," Mayor Frank DelCore said.

It is now contained to the two buildings initially involved, but bulk amounts of furniture, paper records, food goods and plastic pellets that were stored inside continue to burn.

Weniger attributed much of the smoke to the plastic pellets.

The winds hampered firefighting efforts Thursday night, but the near zero or subzero temperatures continue to be a problem. The water freezes, apparatuses have run into issues and the 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time have to be regularly rotated.

Most of the water being used to fight the fire are coming from tankers. There are hydrants on site, but because of their age and infrastructure, they're not providing nearly as much water pressure as is needed, Weniger said.

"Water is always an issue and a concern," he said.

Residents on warehouse fire: 'Biggest we've seen'

Weniger said the buildings are owned by the federal government, which leased them out to a management company, who then sublet the space.

There were people inside at the time the fire started, but they had left either prior to the fire department's arrival or with the help of firefighters.

"At this point, we have no origin or cause," Weniger said. "We're still assembling information, but we can't do a lot until we don't have that scene behind us."

DelCore sought to quell concerns that the buildings were the site of the former Defense Logistics Agency Depot, which once housed 12,500 barrels of mercury since the early 1940s. It was on an adjacent property and the last shipment of mercury left the township for Nevada in December 2010.

"It's been out of this adjacent facility for about six years," he said.

Views of fire shared on social media

The state Department of Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor air quality, but DelCore said that at this point, there is no imminent public threat.

"Our main concern has been particulates because of the smoke leaving the site and we're seeing those are coming down considerable as the fire is contained," said Dr. Glen Belnay, the township's health officer.

Power has since been restored to area residents, but Route 206 between Dukes Parkway West and Camplain Road has been closed until further notice.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

Fire was roughly 750 yards behind the Farm Barn on the property. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- Duke Farms and its nesting eagles were safe from the massive fire at the Veterans Industrial Park that continued to burn into Friday afternoon.

The fire, which started just before 3 p.m. on Thursday and raced through two large warehouse buildings on Route 206, is at least two miles away from the eagles and 750 yards behind the Farm Barn, said Nora Wagner, director of programs at Duke Farms.

The female eagle is expected to hatch her first egg any day now, Wagner said. The first egg was hatched on Feb. 16 last year, she said.

Sprinklers, hydrants outdated at fire site

"I think the eagles are OK," said Wagner. "In fact, we should have our first egg of 2016 any day now. The eagles are on the opposite end of the property from the fire and the wind is blowing in an entirely different direction. They're safe."

Michael Catania, executive director of the Duke Farms Foundation, said he closed the property on Friday as a precaution. He said on Thursday approximately 200 people came to watch the fire and he didn't want that situation to happen Friday.

Catania said he was told by health inspectors that the air quality is fine, but he's concerned about the water.

WATCH: N.J. eagle camera

"We did get a call from a local health inspector and everything is OK," said Catania. "But we're going to check back tomorrow with the EPA and make sure there's no water contamination from the run off of the fire. We're on a slight incline so we should be OK."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Because the site is owned by the federal government, Hillsborough has little jurisdiction, officials say. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- An outdated sprinkler system and aging hydrants on a federally-owned property led to inadequate water pressure for firefighters trying to quell the blaze that tore through the Hillsborough warehouse complex, officials charged Friday.

"The township has little, if any, jurisdiction to require anything there because it's federal property," Chief Fire Marshal Chris Weniger said an afternoon press briefing. "If we had full jurisdiction there, those sprinkler systems and water systems would have been updated."

The four-building warehouse complex is owned by the federal government but leased to Quadro Realty, who then sublets the space.

Weniger said the township has voiced its concerns on multiple occasions to Quadro, dating as far back as 10 years. Though some improvements were made, the systems are not up to today's standards.

"The type of commodities that were stored in those buildings when those sprinkler systems were installed are very different than the commodities that we see today and so that's part of the issue," he said.

The fire, which began just before 3 p.m. Thursday, has since been contained to two 240,000-square-foot buildings.

Inside were bulk amounts of furniture, paper records and food goods, but much of the dark smoke that billowed skyward was a result of the plastic pellets stored there.

During World War II and the Vietnam war, however, the buildings had housed clothes, shoes and vehicles for as part of the war effort.

"There was never any mercury on this site that we're aware of," Weniger said.

On an adjacent site was the former Defense Logistics Agency Depot, which stored 12,500 barrels of mercury totaling 2,615 metric tons.

U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist.) worked with federal, state and local officials to remove the mercury and the last shipment left the township for Nevada in December 2010.

The site has water hydrants, but the infrastructure and underground plumbing are old.

"The pressure that we're getting and the flow is very, very small and that's why you're seeing a lot of the tanker trucks coming in and supplementing the system," Weniger said.

The tanker trucks refilled at the county's Emergency Service Training Academy off of Roycefield Road. Once on scene, the water is dumped into portable storage pools for the pumper trucks to draft from.

Ray Lonabaugh, a regional manager for the National Fire Sprinkler Association, said if the fire suppression system was working correctly, it clearly would not have burned as long and heavy as it did - neither in this fire nor in North Brunswick, where a similar fire leveled a warehouse last summer.

If the property had been under state or local ownership, Lonabaugh said New Jersey's strict fire codes could have led to a better protection system.

"In all honesty, Jersey is probably one of the most stringent states going," he said. "They've got a very, very strict fire code."

As of 6 p.m., firefighters were still battling hot spots, with occasional plumes of smoke still billowing from the scene.

The blaze was seen and felt from miles away.

"It looked like it was snowing (Thursday) around 4:30 p.m.," Manville resident John Redling said. "There was white ash falling all over."

Here are the answers to some other questions about the fire:

How many firefighters responded?

An exact count of firefighters and companies was not immediately known, but Hillsborough was helped by 30 towns from Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris and Warren counties. Crews, most of whom are volunteers, are rotating on 10- to 12-hour shifts, both the command and those fighting the fire on scene.

"They're out there busting their butts and they deserve our praise," Weniger said.

How much longer will the fire burn?

"I'd say that we're going to be putting water on this for the next two days, at the very least," Weniger said. "The important thing to know now is that it's contained. It's not moving anywhere."

When the fire burns and collapses on itself, he said excavators will then have to be brought in.

"It's going to be a long operation," he said.

What were the biggest difficulties facing the firefighters?

In addition to the cold weather and low water supply at the scene, there were also access problems because of the rail line that runs between the buildings.

"We had a lot against us here," Weniger said.

Were there any injuries?

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries -- a leg injury and eye injury.

Is there a cause?

"Right now, we don't have any point of origin or cause," Weniger said.

He said his team is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, but the focus now remains on fully extinguishing the fire.

Are there air quality concerns?

The state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are continuing to monitor the site's air quality at six stations. One located directly across the blaze at the intersection of Route 206 showed an elevated level of particulate matter for a short time early Friday.

"When we look at a time-weighted average over an 8-hour period, with the clearing of the smoke inhalation and containment of the fire, the numbers have dropped dramatically," the township's health officer, Glen Belnay, said. "So we're really out of the air-quality concerns portion of this event."

- Staff Writers Brian Amaral and Fausto Giovanny Pinto contributed to this report.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

The continued closure of Route 206 as a result of the warehouse fire is causing traffic headaches for commuters Friday afternoon. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- The thick plume of black smoke is gone and the bulk of the fire at Veterans Industrial Park is under control, but for those heading out Friday afternoon traffic remained an issue.

The massive warehouse fire began shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday and continues this afternoon. It destroyed two, 240,000-square-foot warehouses located off Route 206. Hundreds of firefighters from five counties were brought in to fight the blaze. At its peak, smoke from the fire could be seen 50 miles away and was visible as far away as Philadelphia.

Fire: What we know, what we don't know

Route 206, the main artery through the township, was closed much of Thursday afternoon and into Friday morning. It was briefly open before being closed again as firefighters used it as a staging site to battle the blaze.

The highway reopened shortly after 4 p.m. between Duke's Parkway and Camplain Road, with detours causing traffic delays at those locations and at West Camplain Road and North 13th Street in Manville and Valley Road in Hillsborough. Mayor Frank DelCore said Friday afternoon he hoped it would be open Friday evening.

"The detour, to get around, is a wall of cars right now, but I think it's good they're out there getting this done. You gotta thank the firefighters who've been out there for two days in this cold," said Steve Koch of Somerville.

 

Fire Chief Chris Weniger said at a press briefing Friday morning that it may be several days before crews are done.

"The traffic is bad, I'm just more worried about the smoke. I haven't heard if it's safe or not, and they told people to stay inside," said Andrea Moreno who works in Hillsborough. "The smell is what worries me."

The state Department of Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor air quality, DelCore told NJ Advance Media Friday there is no imminent public threat.

As sun fell, local firefighters said that some concern remained about the amount of water on local roads, and the potential that it would freeze over.

The firefighters were tired, but holding up, they said.

Staff writer Fausto Giovanny Pinto contributed to this report.

Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.

Friends said Richard Schubach had a 'heart of gold.' Authorities said he shook down a woman for sex

To his friends, colleagues and neighbors, Richard Schubach was a kind, mild-mannered man with a "heart of gold." A devoted dad who coached his kids in soccer and baseball. A conscientious attorney who ably served clients across the legal spectrum, from divorce cases and real estate closings to criminal defense.

Then there's the Richard Schubach described by the state Supreme Court's disciplinary review board: a man who deceived an ex-girlfriend and stole her money while acting as her attorney in the 1990s. A "callous" lawyer who so badly botched a case through willful neglect in 2003 that his client lost custody of his children and nearly faced a warrant for his arrest. Both cases resulted in 90-day suspensions.

Richard P.Schubach (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

The contrasting images of Schubach collided with tragic consequences late last month, when the 58-year-old attorney was charged with criminal sexual contact following a sting operation mounted by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

Schubach, accused of pressuring female clients for sexual favors in exchange for reduced fees, fondled an undercover detective, lifted her skirt and exposed her breast in an encounter captured by audio and video surveillance, court documents show. The prosecutor's office made the allegations public on Feb. 1.

The next morning, Schubach committed suicide in the parking lot of his Raritan Borough office by shooting himself in the chest.

Today, those who knew him say they continue to struggle with both his death and the sexual acts he allegedly carried out.

"We're all reeling over what happened," said Jeralyn Lawrence, president of the Somerset County Bar Association. "I don't think anyone would have ever seen this coming. It was completely out of character from what I know of him."

State Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman, who has known Schubach for 26 years and who has referred dozens of clients to him, called his friend a good attorney who made a handful of mistakes earlier in his career.

Bateman, a lawyer, said he was as shocked as anyone by the criminal charges, and he called Schubach out of concern the evening of Feb. 1, a Sunday, to check on him.

"That night, I was trying to sleep and I didn't have a good feeling about things. I was worried about the repercussions and Rich," Bateman said. "I found out the next morning he killed himself. I can't tell you how heartbroken I am.

"I just think he felt so much guilt. He thought about his wife and children and felt the best way out was to take his life," the senator added. "It's a shame. His death isn't just a shock to the legal community, it's a shock to central New Jersey. He's going to be missed."

Several attorneys and Schubach's widow questioned why the prosecutor's office released so much detail about the alleged incident, saying it amounted to an unnecessary public shaming for a relatively low-level crime.

Schubach was charged with three counts of criminal sexual contact, a fourth-degree offense that carries the presumption of non-incarceration. He was released on $2,500 bail.

"For a low-level offense like that, people are usually just sent a summons in the mail," said defense attorney Katharine Errickson, who first met Schubach in 1997 when she was a prosecutor in Hunterdon County. "In all my years of practice, I've never seen details released to the media in a case like this."

In a brief interview at Schubach's home in Stockton, his wife, Diane, said she was enraged at both the prosecutor's office and the media over how the case was handled.

"I don't think it's fair," Diane Schubach, the chief financial officer for Branchburg Township, said last week, tears in her eyes. "He was tried and convicted in the press before he had a chance to defend himself. He would've never received a fair trial with the disgusting details that were released by the prosecutor's office to the media."

The couple's two children stood in the background as their mother spoke. Friends said the children have been devastated by their father's loss.

"He was a great, kind and devoted father who would do anything for his kids," Diane Schubach said. "He told them he would die for them."

In a statement issued in response to the criticism by Diane Schubach and her husband's friends in the legal community, Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said the state's sex-offense statutes require specific details in affidavits for probable cause -- documents that are presented to a judge as the foundation of criminal charges.

"Accordingly," Soriano said, "any affidavit of probable cause filed with a complaint in this type of matter needs to be blunt and is a matter of public record.

"Moreover, our investigation was initiated as a result of the allegations of multiple victims," Soriano added. "There was a pattern of alleged conduct that needed to be communicated very clearly to the community so as to adequately determine whether there were other victims. Thus, a press release was issued which utilized facts set forth in the affidavit of probable cause to describe the conduct and requested any additional victims to come forward and contact our office."

'Heart of gold'

William Jennings says he couldn't have asked for a better neighbor.

Jennings, who lives about a quarter-mile from the Schubach home in Stockton, a rural community bordering the Delaware River, said he saw Richard Schubach frequently as the attorney walked his two dogs, Banjo and Stewie.

"He had a heart of gold," Jennings said. "He was a good neighbor and a great guy, very dedicated to his family. We would sometimes walk our dogs together. He would always stop and chat. He was always with his son. He was very involved with him."

Jennings said he was stunned when he learned of the criminal charges against his friend.

"It's a complete 180 from what I knew about him," he said.

That sentiment was expressed repeatedly by those who regularly crossed paths with Schubach, a solo practitioner for most of his career. A 1975 graduate of Delbarton High School, Schubach earned an undergraduate degree from Franklin and Marshall University in Lancaster, Pa., before receiving his law degree from the Syracuse University School of Law in 1982, according to his obituary.

He picked up clients wherever he could, handling divorce, alimony and custody cases, drunken driving prosecutions, domestic violence charges, the occasional felony charge and real estate transactions.

"He was always going a million miles an hour," said Lawrence, the president of the county bar association.  

Yet Lawrence never witnessed anything but above-board behavior from Schubach.

"He was mild-mannered, kind and professional," she said. "He had a fun sense of humor."

Lawrence said she was aware Schubach had been disciplined in the past, but she said she didn't know specifics of the incidents, and she found him to be a competent attorney in her own dealings with him.

"I think my colleagues approach it  more from a humanitarian point of view," she said. "You feel bad for everyone involved."

Errickson, the defense lawyer who was friends with Schubach, said the attorney should not be judged by his final days.

"Rich was a good man," Errickson said. "I don't want his whole life defined by the last two days of his life. The impact he had on his family and friends was so much more than that."

Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The state's entire 14-member congressional delegation endorsed Gov. Chris Christie's request for federal disaster aid. Watch video

WASHINGTON -- A day after Gov. Chris Christie sought federal disaster aid to help cover the costs of January's winter storm, the entire 14-member New Jersey congressional delegation asked President Barack Obama to approve his request.

The storm ravaged 17 of the state's 21 counties and caused an estimated $82.6 million in damage.

"The devastation endured by New Jersey residents, business owners, and local governments merits a disaster declaration and emergency assistance," the lawmakers wrote to the president.

"Recovery from this storm has been difficult for New Jerseyans, and we urge you to approve this request as soon as possible to ensure the people of New Jersey can begin to rebuild from this storm and mitigate against future disasters."

U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.) toured parts of the Jersey Shore after the storm, which caused coastal flooding in some of Cape May County's towns that exceeded the levels during Hurricane Sandy. 

A disaster declaration would make the state eligible for federal funds for the storm, which brought up to 30 inches of snow, plus high winds and flooding, and cut power to around 270,000 homes. Christie said the counties in question suffered around $82.6 million in damages.

Christie sought the disaster declaration for Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

He also requested federal funds to help cover the costs of removing and dumping the snow and salting and sanding roads in Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties.

Clear damage met FEMA threshold for federal disaster assistance from storm having toured several #SouthJersey communities, spoke w/ mayors

-- Frank LoBiondo (@RepLoBiondo) February 11, 2016

Chief said the many challenges made this fire the largest he has ever seen in Somerset County. Watch video

HILLSBOROUGH -- When Hillsborough Chief Fire Marshall Chris Weniger arrived at the massive warehouse fire at Veterans Industrial Park shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, he knew he was in for the biggest fire he has faced in his 33-year career.

Weniger said he witnessed an inferno that was raging out of control.

"We didn't arrive at a small fire and it grew," Weniger, the township's chief fire marshal for the past 18 years, told NJ Advance Media Saturday. "We arrived at a large fire. Also, the wind was a big factor.

"Within the boundaries of Somerset County, I can't think of a larger fire. Just the sheer size of it. And the fact we had so many challenges with the weather, the wind, the water supply wasn't the best."

Old sprinklers and hydrants to blame at blaze

Weniger said the fire was officially contained Friday morning. As of Saturday morning, he said rotating crews are on "mop-up" duty, extinguishing small hot spots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Veteran firefighters agree that the overnight blaze at Veterans Industrial Park, which required firefighters from more than 30 communities and five counties - Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Warren and Somerset - and more than 200 vehicles to contain, was the biggest in the county in recent memory.

The blaze closed Route 206 for much of Thursday and Friday, the major thoroughfare in the township of more than 38,000 residents that was voted one of Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live" in 2015.

"I can't even imagine being a first responder," said Bradley Gardens Fire Chief Frank Ur. "I'm just glad no one got seriously hurt."

Duke Farms' eagles not exposed to smoke

Ur said the fire was the most intense in the county that he's been involved with since the blaze at the Bradco Supply Corporation on March 4, 2006. In that fire, highly-flammable roofing materials burned quickly and 25 fire units fought the blaze. Thick black smoke billowed over the 13-acre property and could be seen from miles away. Wind gusts complicated matters.

"Just the roofing materials alone made it difficult," said Ur.

By Friday morning, the fire at Veterans Industrial Park was contained to the two 240,000-square foot buildings initially involved at the four-building warehouse complex.

Firefighters worked 10- to 12-hour shifts with anywhere from 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time. Six to 10 ladders were operating at the peak of the fire. An outdated sprinkler system and aging hydrants led to inadequate water pressure, which hampered firefighters, Weniger said.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries - a leg injury and an eye injury.

Initially, there was concern about the air quality levels as smoke blanketed the sky for miles. Residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency set up six air monitoring stations overnight. Friday morning it was determined that after an overnight spike, the levels returned to below those dangerous levels.

Residents in the areas of Camplain, Old Camplain and Sunnymead roads and Brooks Boulevard avoid exposure to the smoke and keep windows closed.

The four large buildings contained various commodities, storage containers, paper records storage and plastic chips and pellets. The buildings are owned by the federal government and leased to a private company that, in turn, sub-leased them to the firms operating out of the complex.

Residents turn to social media

Because the site is owned by the federal government, Hillsborough has little jurisdiction over it, officials said.

Weniger said he was overwhelmed by the support from surrounding municipalities and counties and the community.

"We're extremely grateful for the assistance from the neighboring communities and counties," said Weniger. "We want to thank the mutual aid, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, our dispatchers at the Somerset County Command Center, the New Jersey Department of Fire Safety and, of course, the firefighters.

"Most of these firefighters are volunteers and they continue to come out here in these brutal conditions and fight fires. I can't say enough about them.

"Finally, I want to thank the community at large and the business community in Hillsborough. We received so many well-wishes. There was food and water. There were signs of support. It was real nice to know the community is appreciative and supportive of our efforts."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Two people were found dead today in what authorities are calling a double homicide in an upscale area of the county.

BRANCHBURG -- Two people were found dead today in what authorities are calling a double homicide in an upscale section of the township.

A suspect in the deaths has been arrested, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, which released only basic information about the double killing.

"Detectives ... are investigating a double homicide at 115 Readington Road in Branchburg Township," Jack Bennett, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said in an emailed statement. "A suspect has been arrested. This is an ongoing investigation, no additional information is available at this time."

It's not clear what time the killings occurred. Officials at the scene removed a stretcher from the home around 2 p.m.

Several people, presumably family members of the victims, arrived at the two-story house about an hour after police. One called the incident "traumatic" but declined further comment.

Property records show that the home is owned by Louis and Betty Simon, 78 and 65, respectively. It is not clear whether the couple were home at the time of the killings.

A woman who identified herself as Betty Simon's daughter declined comment when reached by phone.

Investigators took photos of a red minivan and a dark BMW that were parked in the driveway, which had a swing set and play area in the back. A neighbor who asked that her name not be used, said a young man used to live at the house with the couple but that the neighbor had not seen him in months.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Laura Herzog, MaryAnn Spoto and Vernal Coleman contributed to this report.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.

A blood-covered township man called police Saturday after allegedly killing an elderly man and woman at his home, officials said.

BRANCHBURG -- A blood-covered township man called police Saturday after allegedly killing an elderly man and woman at his home, officials said.

Ezra Simon-Daniels, 20, called 911 at about 5:57 a.m. Saturday while sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle parked at the Whitehouse Walmart on Route 22, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.

Readington Township Police found him covered in blood, but with no visible wounds, officials said.

Readington Police contacted Branchburg Police and asked them to check Simon-Daniels' home on Readington Road, officials said. Officers knocked several times with no response.

When they went inside, they found an elderly man and woman dead. They had both suffered "significant blunt force trauma to their heads," the prosecutor's office said.

It's not clear when the killings took place. Property records show the home is owned by Louis and Betty Simon, 78 and 65, respectively.

A family member wrote a post on Facebook asking for privacy until the facts are known.

The New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiners Office is conducting post-mortem examinations to confirm the identities, cause and manner of death of the victims, officials said.

Simon-Daniels has been charged with two counts of murder. He's been lodged in Somerset County Jail on $2 million bail.

NJ Advance Media reporter Marisa Iati contributed to this article.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The crash killed three people, including a Bridgewater resident, and injured at least 70 others, police said. Watch video

BETHEL, Pa. -- A Bridgewater woman was one of three people who were killed Saturday morning in a 64-vehicle crash on Interstate 78 in central Pennsylvania.

Francisca V. Pear, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that sent more than 70 people to the hospital, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Also pronounced dead at the scene were Kenneth J. Lesko, 50, of Bethpage, N.Y., and Alfred Dean Kinnick, 57, of Limestone, Tenn.

The major crash occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. on the westbound lanes of I-78 in Bethel Township, Pa., State Police said. Bethel is about 75 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

The wreckage from the pileup shut down both lanes of the highway overnight. The eastbound lanes of the interstate were reopened just before 5 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the westbound lanes at 7 a.m.

A dozen commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers and box trucks, were involved in the crash. Police also had to respond to numerous secondary crashes.

Among those in the pileup were 12 members and three coaches of the Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team. The team was on its way home from a game in New Kensington, Pa., when their charter bus was hit by a tractor-trailer. None of the members suffered serious injuries, but were taken to the hospital for precautionary measures. They have all since been released from the hospital, the school said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Initial reports indicated that a snow squall might have contributed to the crash, Trooper Adam Reed told The Associated Press.

A driver in the crash, Raul Jardine, told pennlive.com he was driving along the interstate when he reached a sudden stop in traffic during whiteout conditions. His car was then struck from behind, but he was not injured.

"It was just a bunch of trucks in the middle of the highway, crushed," the Allentown, Pennsylvania, resident told the website.

At least 73 people were taken to area hospitals. Representatives from the hospitals told pennlive.com that a majority of those patients suffered minor injuries in the crash. 

Nearly two-dozen firefighters and EMS assisted at the scene. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Lebanon County Red Cross and EMA officials , Salvation Army and the Lebanon County Coroner's Office also responded to the crash.

Eight towing companies helped remove the disabled vehicles. 

The Pennsylvania State Police applauded the efforts of the various agencies that assisted at the scene. 

"With a crash of this magnitude, an outstanding effort from these many agencies made it possible to stabilize the scene, treat the critically-wounded and rescue the affected individuals with the primary focus on preservation of life," State Police said in a news release.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Initially, approximately 450 employees will make the move from Union County to Bridgewater.

BRIDGEWATER -- Linde Americas announced Thursday that it's moving its North and South America headquarters from Murray Hill to a new state-of-the-art facility at the Somerset Corporate Center in Bridgewater.

The move is scheduled to begin this summer with approximately 450 employees going to Bridgewater, according to a news release.

Linde, one the world's largest gases and engineering companies, has been in the Murray Hills section of New Providence for more than 70 years and will keep part of its operation there for at least the next two years, the release said.

Pat Murphy, president of Linde Americas, said the company has decided to remain in New Jersey because of its business-friendly policies and encouragement of public-private partnerships.

"After an exhaustive study we concluded that Linde now requires a new office space solution to meet current and future needs," Murphy was quoted in the release. "The new facility in Bridgewater offers a more modern and appropriately sized work environment that will enable Linde to remain in New Jersey, close to the epicenter of where our employees currently live."

 Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno praised the move, saying Linde Americas has become a "strong link" in the state's economy.

Bridgewater Mayor Daniel Hayes said Linde is a major supplier in the pharmaceutical industry and it's move to the township is indicative of its leadership role in the industry in New Jersey.

"Approximately 450 Linde headquarters employees will relocate to the Bridgewater facility, beginning this summer," Murphy said. "Employees representing our application technology team and a few other key teams will continue remain in Murray Hill for at least the next two years."

Linde, which has over 65,000 employees in more than 100 countries, manufactures and supplies industrial, specialty and medical gases. Primary products include nitrogen and oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen and a variety of medical, rare and special gases. Linde supplies its customers through on-site production, pipeline, tankers and cylinders.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A soothing petting session with your dog while watching your favorite television program is an excellent relaxation routine.

As people and their pets start a new year, there are a number of ways to make resolutions beneficial for both.

According to a 2016 Milk-Bone Canine Resolutions Survey, the top pledge for the new year is "I will spend more time with my dog." Other pledges range from both humans and dogs eating more nutritiously to personal care including weight loss and dental hygiene.

Milk-Bone pet insights expert Jesse Vasquez has some suggestions.

"Have a resolutions buddy." Because dogs follow through with rituals even better than humans, you can better stick to your personal health and wellness goals by including your pet. The survey noted that 55 percent of dog parents say their dog helps them exercise more.

"Create nighttime rituals." Because such rituals help calm and relax people and pets, try to stick with a regular routine that focuses on stress-reducing activities like a soothing petting session with your dog while watching your favorite television program.

"Give Yourself a reward." Just as dogs love treats when they exhibit good behavior, make sure you regularly reward yourself and your dog for following through on resolutions.

Here's a gallery of adoptable pets from northern and central New Jersey. Other galleries of pets in need can be seen here and here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Officials estimate $82.6 million in damage in 17 New Jersey counties from January's weekend winter storm. Watch video

New Jersey lawmakers are working together to bring $82 million in disaster aid to the state in response to January's devastating winter storm.

Gov. Chris Christie made a request Thursday to President Barack Obama for a disaster declaration for the state. If a disaster declaration is made, New Jersey will be eligible for federal funds that will cover the cost of the storm response.

A day after Christie's request, the 14-member New Jersey congressional delegation joined in asking Obama for the approval.

According to the request, officials estimate $82.6 million in damage in 17 of New Jersey's 21 counties.

The following are estimations per county included in the request of how much damage the storm caused:

- Atlantic County: $2,294,483

- Bergen County: $7,456,765

- Burlington County: $4,745,251

- Camden County: $2,971,946

- Cape May County: $4,207,200

- Cumberland County: $913,00

- Essex County: $7,975,382

- Hudson County: $10,886,929

- Hunterdon County: $2,736,849

- Mercer County: $4,732,611

- Middlesex County: $7,293,870

- Monmouth County: $9,271,521

- Morris County: $4,281,244

- Ocean County: $6,419,301

- Somerset County: $1,435,551

- Union County: $4,621,985

- Warren County: $419,709

These figures were sent to Obama as part of Christie's request for a disaster declaration.

The effect of the storm runs from Jan. 22 to Jan. 29. The highest reported snowfall during the winter storm was in Bernards Township in Somerset County. In addition to snow, high winds and flooding caused damage to property and cut power to 270,000 homes.

Coastal flooding was caused by record high tides and winds that reached 60 miles per hour offshore.

Officials compiled the estimates during a preliminary damage assessment between Feb. 2 and Feb. 5. Assisting in the estimate was the state Office of Emergency Management, state Department of Environmental Protection and Bureau of Coastal Engineering. 

The following are the top 20 municipalities most affected by the Jan. 23 winter storm and the amount of estimated damage from the storm, according to Christie's report:

- Toms River Township, Ocean County: $2,225,000

- Avon-by-the-Sea, Monmouth County: $1,263,304

- Brigantine, Atlantic County: $1,013,500

- Sea Isle City, Cape May County: $975,000

- Middletown, Monmouth County: $695,042

- Brick Township, Ocean County: $676,000

- West Orange, Essex County: $666,120

- Marlboro, Monmouth County, $626,362

- Atlantic City, Atlantic County: $570,000

- Gloucester Township, Camden County: $570,000

- Union City, Hudson County: $551,890

- West Wildwood, Cape May County: $550,000

- Bayonne, Hudson County: $489,489

- Long Beach, Ocean County: $475,000

- North Wildwood, Cape May County: $459,000

- Avalon, Cape May County: $438,000

- Wildwood, Cape May County: $420,000

- Manalapan, Monmouth County: $413,196

- Parsippany, Morris County: $350,611

- North Arlington, Bergen County: $350,000

The weekend pileup, which occurred during a 'freak' whiteout in rural Pennsylvania, claimed the life of a Bridgewater woman. Watch video

The investigation into Saturday's massive 64-vehicle pileup in Pennsylvania, in which a Bridgewater woman was killed, will take weeks and possibly up to a month, an accident reconstruction expert said Monday. 

Greg Sullenberger of Crashteams, Inc., based in western Pennsylvania, said the crash scene on westbound Interstate 78 in rural Lebanon County is "a large and complicated puzzle" that needs to be analyzed one vehicle at a time. 

According to Sullenberger, investigators will try to match paint scrapes and impact points to determine which vehicles "interacted" with others. In addition, they will download information from air bag modules that will provide information on a vehicle's speed, steering and braking at the time of deployment. Tractor-trailer trucks have similar modules, he said. 

Pennsylvania State Police said a dozen commercial vehicles were involved in the pileup, in which three were killed and 73 were injured. 

Francisca V. Pear, 54, of Bridgewater, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Pennsylvania State Police. 

Investigators also will interview witnesses, although Sullenberger said physical evidence is more reliable.

"It's hard to recall fine details when you're involved in something traumatic," he said. 

The accidents occurred during a "freak" whiteout snowstorm at 9:28 a.m., said state Trooper Justin Summa. 

Besides Pear, Kenneth J. Lesko of Bethpage, N.Y., and Alfred D. Kinnick of Limestone, Tenn., were declared dead at the scene. 

A woman at Pear's home in Bridgewater declined to comment. 

The 73 people who were injured were taken to 11 hospitals, state police said.

The highway, which was shut down in both directions Saturday, reopened Sunday morning. 

Troopers from nine barracks or units responded to the crash, which unfolded during a stretch of bitterly cold weather. Firefighters from 14 departments, seven EMS agencies, four medical helicopters and emergency management personnel also were on the scene to untangle the wreckage. 

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

According to a report, fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant Monday morning. Watch video

A South Bound Brook restaurant and bar was heavily damaged during a fire Monday, according to mycentraljersey.com.

The SouthSide Grille and Restaurant, 2 Main St., was damaged in the quick-moving fire that reportedly started Monday morning in the kitchen. 

No one was injured in the fire, according to the report, saying residents who lived in apartments above the restaurant were evacuated. 

Church seeks donations for Hoboken fire victims

According to the report and a witness, damage was extensive, including a collapsed roof in the kitchen and smoke and water damage throughout the building. 

Check later on NJ.com for updates.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Westminster Masters Obedience Championship is new for 2016 Watch video

Toby the golden retriever wags his tail as he jauntily walks alongside his owner, Barbara Heesemann. He must know when to heel, but also know when not to follow. When instructed to sit and stay, he remains planted to the ground, using his brown eyes to track her as she walks around him -- he cranes his neck and twists so he doesn't lose her. But when she says go, he runs full-speed to the other end of the room. When she shouts, he drops to the floor. 

But Toby is more than just well-behaved. Like 33 other dogs competing in a new part of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show Monday, Toby is an obedience dog, an expert athlete in a sport that is worlds more intricate than simply being "a good dog."  

"Toby SIT!" Heesemann commands, as dog and owner get ready for Westminster in a practice space at Hal Wheeler's Pet Resort & School for Dogs in Cedar Grove. Toby, in the middle of a sprint, comes to a screeching halt then sits and turns to face Heesemann. 

The Westminster Masters Obedience Championship is having its inaugural run at the 140th Westminster dog show, becoming the freshest part of competition since the Westminster Masters Agility Championship was added in 2014. Of 2,752 dogs entered in the Westminster this year, 190 are from New Jersey. In an event traditionally prized for its celebration of breed standards -- the award for best in show is decided on Tuesday -- the agility contest holds the distinction of including mixed dogs. So does obedience, though no mixed dogs are in the obedience ring the first time out.

Long a part of the professional dog training world, obedience has made only fleeting appearances at Westminster, says Gail Miller, director of communications for Westminster Kennel Club. The first Westminster obedience demonstration was in 1936. There was another in the '40s, but never a competition, she says. 

Why not incorporate obedience earlier in the show's 140-year run?

"The biggest drawback was size," Miller says. In years past, the dog show was confined to Madison Square Garden. Now, judging takes place at Piers 92 and 94 in New York before moving to the Garden for evening competition. 

"Now that we have our daytime judging at the piers, now there's a lot more space," she says. Organizers were thrilled to open the competition up to mixed breeds, but Miller says that's all down to the American Kennel Club, which allows mixed breeds in companion events. The top 150 obedience dogs in the country, determined by an AKC ranking of dogs at obedience trials from Jan. 1 2015 to Oct. 31 2015, were invited to compete. 

While the agility competition, which wrapped on Saturday, is a high-flying demonstration of precision and speed that sees handlers running alongside their dogs as they bounce over hurdles and weave around poles, obedience is a far tamer sport, one where intensity is measured in inches, not seconds. 

"It's just like some people like watching golf and some watch tennis," Miller says. "With obedience, you're just walking and trotting." Still, she says, the slightest movements are weighed. A dog cannot hesitate before doing what's commanded, and it cannot sit crooked. 

Heesemann, who has been competing with Toby, 8, for six years, and with his mother in years prior, says obedience is all about verbal control and getting a dog to focus on the trainer. This is her first time at Westminster.

"I'm honored and excited," she says. "Nothing but positivity. He will not be nervous. I'll be a wreck." 

Obedience skills dogs must demonstrate include "scent discrimination," in which a dog has to discern which among a series of "articles" -- Heesemann uses miniature weight-like objects made of metal and leather -- have been touched by the trainer. 

There's also "directed jumping," in which the dog moves away from the trainer in a straight line, sits on command and jumps when told. Dogs additionally have to "retrieve over high jump," which means jumping over a hurdle and securing an object, then jumping over the hurdle again to bring it back. Toby has to jump 26 inches -- each dog's jumping height is determined by how tall it stands at the shoulder. 

Manager of a dental office in Saddle Brook, Heesemann co-owns Toby with veterinarian Allison Milne, owner of Mendham Animal Hospital. She says while the dog is totally attuned to his obedience exercises, when it's not "work" time, he's blissfully unfocused. 

"If I left him to his own devices, he would circle this room many times," she says. "He's definitely just a good-time Charlie." 

Only 10 dogs make the obedience final. If Toby does, his routine involves "scenting" rubber duckies -- that is, figuring out which duck in a group of ducks carries his owner's scent. 

"I don't want to risk contaminating them with my scent," Heesemann says, using tongs to place the rubber ducks on the floor. If he makes it to the end of the competition, Toby will also have to retrieve plush ducks on command -- and not mistake them for errant toys. 

"Toby's nearing retirement," Heesemann says. "It's all fun. Whatever happens happens." 

Linda Brennan, of Columbia in Warren County, has been training dogs in obedience for 25 years. She's competing at Westminster with Heart, her 3 1/2-year-old Labrador retriever, who appeared on "Saturday Night Live" last year. 

"I think it will bring a lot of public awareness to a competition that most people don't even know exists," she says. "I think people don't really have any idea of what it is that we do." Heart's father won the AKC National Obedience Championship twice. 

"She was really specifically bred to do this sport," Brennan says. Yet regardless of a dog's lineage, the interplay between trainer and trainee is the most important factor, she says. 

"In obedience, it's just you and the dog," Brennan says. "The only thing you bring in there is your relationship." This sets obedience apart from breed competition, for which it's customary to deploy separate handlers.

"You very rarely see anybody but the owner show the dogs," she says. 

Regina Steiner, a teacher at Princeton Dog Training Club, has been working with obedience since 1983. Although there just so happens to be no mixed breeds in the first Westminster Obedience Championship, she appreciates the inclusion. 

"Now I don't have to say to people, 'Now you could compete if you had a purebred,'" says Steiner, of Somerset. She's competing at Westminster with her dog, Bunny, a 5 1/2-year-old German shepherd who tackled 30 obedience trials last year. She says while many may prefer the adrenaline rush of agility competition, the oneness between dog and owner that obedience requires is different. 

 "Nothing builds the bond the way obedience does," she says. "It's special." 

Police evacuated eight apartment residents before the building "erupted into flames." Watch video

SOUTH BOUND BROOK -- Eight South Bound Brook residents were saved from a potential disaster when borough police Monday morning noticed smoke coming from a nearby restaurant and bar on the ground floor below their apartments.

Police Lt. Jeff Titus said officers noticed smoke coming from the SouthSide Grille and Restaurant, 2 Main St., about 8:55 a.m.

He said officers quickly entered the building and evacuated eight residents.

"Shortly after, it erupted into flames," Titus said. 

Porcelain pranksters wanted for vandalism with toilet, frozen raccoon

Flames were initially visible in the kitchen area of the restaurant, but Titus said it will take an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. 

He said the apartments as well as the entire restaurant and bar were damaged by the fire and smoke or the water used to put out the fire.

 "There is quite a bit of damage to it," he said. 

Crews from South Bound Brook, Bound Brook, Middlesex, Somerset Fire and Rescue, Elizabeth Avenue Fire Co., Community Fire Co. responded to the fire, Titus said. 

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.