HOWELL – A fire that has been ruled suspicious in nature is under investigation by the Howell Police Department Investigations Division, the Howell Fire Bureau and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Police said that at 11 p.m. Feb. 14, police officers and firefighters from Howell’s Adelphia Fire Company responded to a call at the Angle Inn mobile home park at 1235 Route 33 to investigate a report of an odor of burning plastic in one section of the mobile home park.
Police and firefighters checked the mobile home park and surrounding areas, including the accessible front area of the Taylor Fence company across the state highway at 1246 Route 33. There was no odor, fire or smoke detected and units cleared the scene, according to a press release from police.
At 12:45 a.m. Feb. 15, Howell police were notified by phone that flames were visible on property behind the Taylor Fence company. Howell police officers and firefighters from Howell’s Adelphia, Ramtown, Southard, Squankum and Freewood Acres fire companies responded to the scene.
Police said the fire had consumed a large section of wood fencing material by the time emergency responders arrived. The material that was burning was stacked approximately 30 feet wide by 30 feet long and 20 feet high.
Police said it took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze. To assist with fire suppression, large machinery was brought in to separate the burning material. One firefighter sustained a knee injury and was transported to an area hospital. The office area of the Taylor Fence company was not damaged.
Also responding to the scene were firefighters from Naval Weapons Station Earle and the Colts Neck Fire Department. Howell Police EMS, the Farmingdale-Howell First Aid Squad and the Howell First Aid and Rescue Squad were also present.