Careers & Education

NJ Firefighter Charged with Setting Vans on Fire

Nov. 17, 2023

Randy S. McMaster, a first lieutenant with the Bloomingdale Fire Department, was charged with aggravated arson, arson and criminal mischief.

By Jeff Goldman

Source nj.com (TNS)

A volunteer firefighter has been charged with setting fire to two company vans in an Optimum store parking lot in Bergen County.

A volunteer firefighter and employee of cable-internet provider Altice has been charged with setting fire to two of the company’s vans in an Optimum store parking lot in Bergen County, authorities said.

Randy S. McMaster, 42, of Bloomingdale, torched the vehicles in the rear parking lot of the store on Potash Road in Oakland around 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 19, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.

McMaster’s LinkedIn.com profile says he has worked for Altice and Cablevision for more than 25 years. It also says he’s a first lieutenant with the Bloomingdale Fire Department. Fire officials couldn’t immediately be reached Friday.

The blazes, which left both of Optimum’s vans with smoke and fire damage, had already been extinguished when firefighters and police officer arrived, officials said.

McMaster was charged with aggravated arson, arson and criminal mischief. He was brought to the Bergen County jail ahead of a first appearance in court. Attorney information wasn’t immediately available.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected].