Rutherford residents stood with members of the Congregation Beth El Friday afternoon wondering what sparked the huge fire that destroyed the synagogue early that morning.

Investigators from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office searched for clues while firefighters poured water on the smoldering ruins. The synagogue that in 2012 was the target of a firebombing was once again the subject of an arson investigation.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, investigators had yet to determine the cause of the blaze. Rutherford police said the preliminary investigation determined the fire was not intentionally set.

No one was reported injured, although the neighborhood along Montrose Avenue was enveloped in a thick pall of smoke on Friday.

“It’s an awful thing to happen. I just hope it was something that was

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