Early Morning Fire At Howell Windmill Club Under Investigation

HOWELL, NJ — A fire that damaged two townhouses on Wren Way Tuesday morning does not appear suspicious but the investigation is ongoing, police said in an update.

The fire Feb. 7 damaged two units in the Windmill Club townhouse community, #14 and #15 Wren Way.

The four residents in the two houses all got out of the houses safely, authorities said.

There was an adult couple in one of the houses and an adult with an adult son in the other, said Victor Cook, director of the Howell Office of Emergency Management.

Cook said he believes that they are able to find temporary housing with family members. He said the houses are not habitable.

Cook has notified the Red Cross to reach out to the families.

The residents had evacuated the houses before police arrived and there were no casualties, according to a Howell Police Department Facebook post.

The Howell Township Police Communications center received a call at 5:47 a.m. Tuesday, reporting a fire in a residence at #14 Wren Way in the Windmill Club development, police said.

Smoke was visible from the roof of #14 and #15 Wren Way, police said in the update. The fire damage was extensive to both townhomes.

Patrol officers on scene reported that all occupants safely got out of the houses before police arrival with no reported injuries. Fire units responded and eventually extinguished the fire.

Responding units and agencies included: Howell Police Department, Southard Fire Department, Ramtown Fire Department, Squankum Fire Department, Freewood Acres Fire Department, Adelphia Fire Company, Lakewood Fire Department, Brick Township Fire Department, Wall Township Fire Company, Jackson Township Fire Department, Howell Police EMS, Howell Township First Aid Squad, Howell OEM, Howell Fire Bureau, Howell Township Code Enforcement and Community Development, New Jersey Natural Gas, JCP&L and New Jersey American Water Company.

The fire is being investigated by the Howell Township Fire Bureau, Howell Township Detective Bureau and the Township Code Enforcement.