House Fire Closes Part Of Route 33 in Howell

HOWELL, NJ — Traffic was closed on Route 33 in both directions Monday morning, between Howell Road and Brickyard Road, as firefighters responded to a house fire there, police said.

The roadway has since been fully reopened.

At 9 a.m., Howell police received a call from an Eatontown firefighter who saw smoke was coming from a residence at 948 Route 33.

Responding patrol officers found all occupants of the home were already safely evacuated.

Fire departments responded quickly, containing and extinguishing the fire, police said.

One firefighter had a laceration to the hand during fire ground operations. The firefighter was treated at the scene by the Howell Police EMS Division and subsequently transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment.

The Howell Office of Emergency Management and American Red Cross are assisting residents of the fire as needed.

The fire is being investigated by the Howell Township Fire Bureau, along with the Howell Township Police detective bureau, Howell police said.

Fire departments from all around the area responded: Howell Township Fire Departments Adelphia (19-2); Squankum (19- 1); Southard (19-3); Ramtown (19-4); and Freewood Acres (19-5); Farmingdale Fire Company; NWS Earle Fire Department; Jackson Township Fire Department; Wall Township Fire Department and Manalapan Township Fire Department.

Also responding was the Howell Township First Aid Squad, Howell Fire Bureau, Howell Township Office of Emergency Management, American Red Cross, New Jersey Natural Gas, Jersey Central Power and Light and the State of New Jersey DOT Traffic Diversion Team, according to the report by Detective Sgt. Peter Kuppler, Howell Township Police public information officer