BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH –– The city Fire Bureau is investigating the cause of a structure fire on Ocean Boulevard that occurred last week.
On Oct. 25, at approximately 7:20 a.m., the Long Branch Police Department received a report of a possible structure fire in a residence on the 300 block of Ocean Boulevard south, according to Detective Lt. Bruce Johantgen.
Upon arrival, officers observed a heavily involved fire in a rear house at the location, according to Johantgen, who said the 70-year-old occupant of the residence was on the front porch.
The resident was temporarily relocated to the front home while approximately 40 firefighters from the Long Branch and Deal fire departments battled the blaze, which took two hours to extinguish, according to police reports.
The southbound lane of Ocean Boulevard from Morris Avenue to North Bath Avenue was closed for approximately three hours, according to police.

