New Jersey

[Chaplin]

The fans there certainly aren't helping their case for keeping Jason Kidd...

Police unsure if car fires, bomb threat related

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Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Fire damaged 10 cars in a parking lot at Continental Airlines Arena on Friday night during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and police said a bomb threat had been made against the building.


It was not immediately clear whether the fire and the bomb threat were connected, said state police spokesman Steve Jones.


The arson unit was investigating the blaze in Lot 12C of Giants Stadium, which is an overflow lot for those attending the game between the New Jersey Nets and the San Antonio Spurs. The lot is hundreds of yards away from the arena, separated by a four-lane road and is only accessible by a long pedestrian tunnel.


Canine units investigated the bomb threat and nothing unusual was found at the arena, Jones said. The threat was called in to the East Rutherford Police Department at 10:15 p.m., said East Rutherford Police Lt. Dennis Rivelli.


The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but no explosion was reported, Jones said. Working in a steady rain, the Meadowlands Fire Department extinguished the blaze long before the game ended.


Fans exiting the arena only saw two fire engines and a tow truck in the parking lot, where yellow police tape blocked the affected area.


By the time most fans reached the lot, only three damaged vehicles remained: a Chevy Suburban that had been completely gutted by fire, and two smaller sedans with their windows gone and damage to the interiors.


Inspectors sifted through the ashes below the Suburban, taking photographs and samples. Police on the scene didn't think the fires were caused by an explosion, since the hull of the Suburban was essentially intact.


The Spurs beat the Nets 93-83 to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.


The New Jersey Devils will celebrate their recent Stanley Cup victory on Saturday afternoon outside the arena. The team and their fans will celebrate the franchise's third NHL championship in the parking lots outside the building it shares with the Nets.