HOWELL – An improperly discarded cigarette is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a two-story home in Howell on the evening of May 31. No residents or firefighters were injured during the incident.
Howell Police Communications received a 911 call at 9:13 p.m. reporting the house fire on Silversmith Court in the Glen Arden section of Howell off Aldrich Road.
Patrolmen Peter Hochhauser, Nicholas Austin and John Barroqueiro Jr. arrived at the home within minutes and discovered the family of five, including three children under the age of 10, to be safe, according to police.
Due to the size of the fire and the risk of it spreading to nearby homes and structures, the officers began evacuating neighboring homes and notifying residents, according to police.
Police said although the fire is still under investigation, initial findings suggest it may have started in the garage as a result of an improperly discarded cigarette.
The fire spread quickly throughout the home, destroying most of the structure as well as its contents. A 2017 Ford Escape that was parked in the driveway in front of the garage was also destroyed. The fire is not considered suspicious at this time, according to police.
Several fire companies from Howell and one from Jackson responded to extinguish the blaze, which took about 45 minutes. No one was injured during the incident, according to police.
Responding agencies were the Southard, Adelphia, Freewood Acres and Ramtown fire companies from Howell and Jackson Station 55; the Howell Police Investigations Unit; the Howell Fire Bureau; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office; the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office; the Howell Office of Emergency Management; and the Howell Police EMS, Howell first aid and Ramtown first aid units.
