5 People, Dog Critically Injured In Eatontown Fire Monday

EATONTOWN, NJ — Five people were injured, some of them critically, in a fire that broke out in an Eatontown apartment complex Monday morning, according to a spokesman for acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey.

A dog, a male Terrier mix, also suffered extremely serious burns and smoke inhalation in the fire, said Ross Licitra, the executive director of the Monmouth County SPCA. The dog is "barely hanging on," as of Tuesday morning, he said.

The fire broke out inside an apartment at the Country Club Apartments off Rt. 35 in Eatontown shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, said the prosecutor's spokesman.

Eatontown Police, Tinton Falls Police, numerous local fire and EMTs responded, as did detectives with the county prosecutor.

However, five people were injured and all had to be taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The injuries among the five people ranged from being burned to suffering smoke inhalation, confirmed a spokeswoman for Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, who also had officers respond to the fire.

Their injuries were so severe that some had to be taken to the closest trauma hospital and at least one person had to be flown by medical helicopter. One of the women, believed to be the dog's owner, suffered the most critical injuries.

She has since been transferred to a secondary hospital as of Tuesday morning, and she remains in critical condition.

The dog suffered serious burns on its body, plus smoke inhalation. As of Tuesday morning the animal is hospitalized at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls; the dog is in critical, very serious condition.

"The dog suffered burns over 50 percent of its body, but even more serious is the smoke inhalation," said Licitra. "The dog is getting the best medical care available and its family members have been notified, so they will decide where to go from here."

Also, what exactly caused the fire remains unknown at this time and remains currently under investigation, said prosecutor's spokesman Mark Spivey.

This story will be updated with more information as we get it. If anyone witnessed this fire, or wants to talk to Patch, please contact this Patch reporter carly.baldwin@patch.com