By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
HOWELL – Crimestoppers of Monmouth County are asking members of the public to provide information about a fire that law enforcement agencies have said was suspicious in nature.
According to a flier from Monmouth County Crimestoppers, the organization will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of any suspect involved in the fire.
At 12:45 a.m. Feb. 15, Howell police were notified by phone that flames were visible on property behind the Taylor Fence company, 1246 Route 33, Howell. Firefighters from multiple fire companies raced to the scene.
Police said the fire had consumed a large section of wood fencing material by the time emergency responders arrived. It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze. One firefighter sustained a knee injury and was transported to an area hospital. The office area of the fence company was not damaged.
Law enforcement agencies quickly said the blaze was suspicious in nature. According to the Crimestoppers flier, the fire caused significant property loss at the fence company.
A call to the Monmouth County fire marshal was referred to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
On March 2, Charles Webster, a spokesman for Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni, said the Taylor Fence fire remains an active investigation and he confirmed it is considered suspicious in nature.
At 11 p.m. Feb. 14, two hours before the blaze at the fence company erupted, police officers and firefighters from the 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 Route 33. There was no odor, fire or smoke detected and units cleared the scene, according to a press release from police.
Anyone who has information about the fire at Taylor Fence is asked to call 1-800-671-4400 or to text MONMOUTH and the tip to 274637 (CRIMES). All tipsters remain anonymous, according to the flier. For more information about Crimestoppers, visit www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com