2-Alarm Lakewood Fire Displaces 27, Destroys 4 Units

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Twenty families were displaced Saturday after a large fire tore through the Crestwood Manor Apartments on Monmouth Avenue in Lakewood.

Though four units were destroyed in the two-alarm fire, no firefighters or civilians were injured, Lakewood Fire Department Chief Jonathan Yahr told the Asbury Park Press. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Lakewood Fire Department responded at 1:18 p.m. Saturday to reports of a large structure fire at an apartment complex at 1618 Monmouth Avenue, according to a report from the Jersey Shore Fire Response. Firefighters from Ladder 5 reported heavy fire on the first floor. Eventually, all Lakewood stations arrived, and knocked down the fire within 30 minutes, according to the report.

Footage from the scene provided by the Jersey Shore Fire Response shows heavy smoke starting from the first floor of a unit, then spreading to the roof and other units.

The fire destroyed four units, while the other five units are temporarily uninhabitable, Yahr told the Asbury Park Press.

The New Jersey Red Cross said on Twitter that it opened up a temporary shelter at Lakewood High School for displaced families on Saturday night. The Red Cross said Sunday that the shelter was closed, but volunteers helped 27 people from 12 families find temporary food, clothing, and shelter.