Newbury School Playground Burned: Howell Police

HOWELL, NJ — Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire on the playground at Newbury Elementary School in Howell on Sunday.

Firefighters from the Southard Fire Department and the Freewood Acres Fire Company responded to the fire at 11:04 a.m. The fire was reported as a small mulch fire, but when authorities arrived the fire ws much largers and was burning the mulch and playground equipment, fire officials said in a post on Facebook.

Engine 19-3-77 dropped a supply line and began extinguishing the blaze with foam and firefighters cleared the scene after about an hour, the post said.

Howell police and the Howell Township Fire Bureau also responded, and the Howell Board Of Education was requested to the scene. Units cleared after around an hour.. Units cleared after around an hour.

Howell police said they are seeking any information regarding the fire and urge residents or witnesses to contact them via Facebook Messenger. You also can call Howell police directly at 732-938-4111 or their anonymous tip service, P3tips.com.

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Main photo via Howell Township Police; additional photos from Southard Fire Department, published with permission