Firefighters Battle Blaze During High Winds; Homes Evacuated

Middletown firefighters battled a brush fire during heavy winds Saturday evening. 

The East Keansburg Fire Company received a report of a fire across from Williams Avenue at 7:45 p.m. Middletown Township police were the first at the scene observed a large brush fire in the meadows behind 465 Port Monmouth Road residence and evacuated the occupants as a precaution, according to a press release issued by the Middletown Township Fire Department (MTFD). Five homes were eventually evacuated because of the high winds.

Some 75 firefighters  attacked the areas on fire closest to the homes along Port Monmouth under the direction of Department Chief John D’Altilio. The fire department deployed nine engines and three brush trucks to encircle the several acres of meadows bordered by Port Monmouth Road, Bray Avenue, and Pew Creek. High winds and extreme dry conditions fueled the rapid spread of the fire, which was declared under control by 9:10 p.m., according to the release. Firefighters remained on scene until 11 p.m.

The siding of 465 Port Monmouth Road was damaged because of the fire's heat, but no other property damage was sustained and no injuries were reported. 

The five fire companies responding were Belford Engine, Community, East Keansburg, Port Monmouth and Belford Independent. The MTFD Air Unit, Fire Police and the Middletown Township EMS units also responded.