Firefighter Injured During Suspicious Fire At Howell Fencing Company

HOWELL, NJ — Authorities say a suspicious fire at a fencing company resulted in one firefighter being taken to the hospital with an injury suffered while fighting the blaze early Wednesday morning.

The firefighter, who was not identified, sustained a knee injury and was taken to a hospital, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez of the Howell Township Police Department said.

Antunez said Howell police and the Adelphia Fire Company were called to the Angle Inn Mobile Home Park, 1235 Route 33, about 11 p.m. Tuesday for a report of the odor of burning plastic in the northern section of the community, Antunez said. Police and firefighters checked the mobile home community and surrounding areas, including the accessible front area of Taylor Fence, which is across the street at 1246 Route 33, he said. But they could not find fire, smoke or an odor of either and they cleared the scene, he said.

About 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the Howell Police Department Communications Center received a phone call that there were flames visible on the property behind Taylor Fence, he said.

Howell police and firefighers from the Adelphia, Ramtown, Southard, Squankum and Freewood Acres responded, Antunez said. The fire was obvious upon arrival as it was consuming a large section of wood fencing material piled 30 feet wide by 30 feet long and 20 feet high, he said. The fire companies battled the fire for several hours, Antunez said, assisted by large machinery that was brought in to separate the material.

The matter is under investigation by the Howell Township Police Department Investigations Division, Howell Township Fire Bureau and Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office, Antunez said. Investigators have deemed it suspicious, he said.

The office/structure area at Taylor Fence was not damaged, he said.

Howell Police EMS, Farmingdale-Howell First-Aid Squad and Howell First-Aid and Rescue
Squad were also on scene, and the Naval Weapons Station Earle and Colts Neck fire departments provided assistance.

Photos via Howell Township Police Deparment Facebook page