Glenwood fire leaves eight residences uninhabitable

BY LAUREN CIRAULO
Staff Writer

OLDBRIDGE— Afour-alarmfire raged through the Glenwood apartment complex last week, leaving two wounded firefighters and eight damaged residences in its wake.

The blaze broke out in the Route 516 development at 9:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and lasted more than two hours before it was extinguished through the combined efforts of five local fire departments, according to Old Bridge Police Capt. Arthur Carullo.

Authorities said the cause of the fire is still unknown. Firefighters reported that the flames were confined to two apartments when the Cheesequake Volunteer Fire Company first arrived at Building 19 on Ironwood Lane.

Residents had already evacuated the building by the time emergency responders arrived. While there are no reported injuries, Carullo said that 11 residents have been displaced due to the damage. Four apartments in the two-story garden building were completely destroyed by the blaze, while four others were rendered uninhabitable due to water damage and cut power lines.

Assisting at the scene were four more fire departments — South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Company, Matawan Borough Fire Department, Laurence Harbor Fire Department and Cliffwood Beach Fire Company — as well as township police officers and first aid personnel. Atotal of about 60 firefighters and 25 EMS volunteers were at the scene, Carullo said .

Two firefighters incurred minor injuries. One received second-degree burns on his neck while inside the apartment building and another needed stitches near his eye after he was cut while attempting to open the roof to a second-floor apartment. Both firefighters were treated and released that same night.

Two Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers responded to the fire as well, leading to the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey offering assistance to the displaced residents.

“After meeting with the families to determine their immediate needs, 11 individuals, including two children, were provided with temporary lodging and assistance for food and clothing as needed,” the Red Cross announced in a press release. “The families were also provided with referrals for possible long-term needs, as well as comfort kits containing toiletries.”

The Old Bridge Detective Bureau is investigating the cause of the fire.