Multiple Fire Departments Respond to 3 Alarm Blaze on Rt. 34 [VIDEO]

An office building on Route 34 in Old Bridge Township was heavily damaged during a three alarm fire Wednesday evening.

According to Cheesequake Volunteer Fire Company Asst. Chief Ed Mendez, the Old Bridge Fire Department was called to the scene at 5:30 p.m. The fire was already blazing out of the windows and through the roof when they arrived.

The office building, located at 246 Route 34 in Old Bridge, housed at least four separate businesses including All Smiles Dental Care, Behavioral Health Solutions, Swift Construction, LLC and a tax office.

Almost the entire roof burned in the fire, Mendez said. The fire department also had to shatter windows on the second floor to help ventilate the building.

A fire is considered a third alarm fire when it is severe enough to require assistance from multiple other fire departments to contain it, Mendez explained. The Matawan Borough Fire Department, South Old Bridge Fire Company, Laurence Harbor Fire Department, Union Beach Fire Department and South Amboy Fire Department all responded to the blaze.

By 7:45 p.m., the fire appeared to be contained, Mendez said. Firefighters were preparing to enter the building to check for any remaining fire, which could be in a pocket of the wall, or any smoldering areas of the building.

No injuries were reported and no one was inside of the building, Mendez said.

It is unknown at this time was caused the fire to start.