BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The fire department extinguished two structure fires within hours of each other last week.
The department is still investigating the cause of the first fire, which occurred on Aug. 17 at approximately 11:20 p.m. in a rear converted garage apartment on Campbell Avenue.
Long Branch Fire Chief John “Fazz” Zambrano, who resides in the neighborhood, was the first to arrive at the location and observed smoke coming from the complex, according to reports.
The apartment had been recently vacated and the utilities were turned off, according to Detective Lt. Bruce Johantgen, who said the Long Branch Fire Bureau, the Monmouth County Fire Marshals Office and the Long Branch Detective Bureau are looking into the cause of the blaze.
The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes and extinguished within two hours, according to Johantgen.
Just six hours later, the fire department responded to a single-family home on Jane Street, where the lone occupant of the residence was standing outside the dwelling, according to reports.
The fire was started in the basement, according to Johantgen, who said the cause was determined to be a result of combustible materials that had been stored too close to the hot water heater.
Due to the smoke and structural damage to the home, the occupant had to be temporarily relocated to a local motel, according to reports.

