Vacant House Burns in Hazlet on Evening of St. Patrick's Day

Firefighters from multiple companies responded to a working fire in a vacant house on Bedle Road in Hazlet around 9 p.m on St. Patrick's Day. The white, two-story wooden house is located directly behind the parking lots of the Shore Point Inn on Route 35 and Park East Restaurant, on Holmdel Road.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze, said Chief Tim Murray of the Hazlet Fire Dept.

"When I got here the whole back of the house was glowing," said Murray, from his command post at the scene. "The rear of the structure was fully involved."

The fire was called in by a patrolman, he said.

Officials from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and Fire Marshal's Office are investigating the cause of the fire, said Murray.

Once the worst of the fire was contained, firefighters worked in the front and rear of the house, and on an extended ladder, to punch vent holes in the roof to put down any flames trapped in the attic.

Normally tranquil Bedle Road, located off Route 35, was lit up by flashing strobes from more than a dozen fire trucks. A strong odor of acrid smoke hung in the air. Volunteers from Hazlet's three fire companies, Hazlet Fire Company Number One, North Centerville and West Keansburg were on the scene.

First aid trucks were staffed by Hazlet and Union Beach.

Mutual aid was provided at the scene by Matawan's Midway Hose company and Union Beach's Harris Gardens and Union Beach Fire. Co.

Keansburg, Keyport, and Aberdeen companies stood by at the 3 firehouses in Hazlet.