Roofs Collapsing In Lakewood Business Park Blaze (UPDATE)

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Firefighters from several Ocean County towns are battling a large-scale fire at a small business park that houses several businesses including a shop used for welding, Lakewood police said Wednesday afternoon.

Police were called about 2:20 p.m. by a man who reported a fire at 144 Cross Street after hearing a "loud explosion," Detective Lt. Gregory Staffordsmith said. When police and firefighters arrived they saw flames and shut down part of Cross Street between River and Massachusetts avenues, he said.

The Lakewood Scoop reported several businesses at the site had been seriously damaged and several roofs have collapsed.

Firefighters from from Jackson, Toms River, Brick and Point Pleasant were at the scene assisting Lakewood firefighters in controlling the quickly spreading fire, he said. JCP&L and New Jersey Natural Gas have been called in as well, he said.

As authorities were dealing with the fire, a crash where a car hit a utility pole at the intersection of Cross Street and Massachusetts Avenue added to the difficulties. Police labeled the crash serious and said it broke the utility pole and brought down wires. No information on injuries was available.

This is a breaking news report and will be updated as more information becomes available.