2 Boys Charged in Fatal N.J. Fire

Two boys, ages 12 and 13, were charged today with setting the fire that tore through 40 acres of factories and homes here and caused an estimated $400 million damage, the mayor said.

The boys lived in the working-class neighborhood devastated by the blaze, which roared out of control for 10 1/2 hours before being contained early Tuesday. “They have admitted to setting the fire,” Mayor Joseph Lipari said. “Their parents were very upset, crying or screaming.” One firefighter died of a heart attack while fighting the blaze.