The Asbury Park Press reports that a fire at the Fountains Condominium Complex on 1340 Ocean Avenue continues to burn.
From an update posted at 9:39a:
SEA BRIGHT A fire at 1340 Ocean Ave., at the Fountains Condominium Complex, continues to burn as firefighters and emergency workers are battling fire, winds and frigid temperatures.
“The wind is making it difficult getting the fire under control,” said Councilwoman Dina Long, who was at the scene and in contact with fire officials.
At least one person was critically burned, witnesses said. The fire was reported about 6 a.m.
Winds off the river and sheets of ice on the roadway are hampering efforts to battle the blaze.
Long said about six to eight units are burning. The fire was reported after neighbors heard screams this morning and looked out to see a woman fully engulfed in flames on her balcony, witnesses said.
The Fountains Condominium Complex is a multi-unit high-end real estate property on the Shrewsbury River.
More:
Marion and Anthony DeFonzo of Summit have a unit at the Fountains and received a call from the Summit Police Department about 6 a.m. that their condominium was on fire. The Fonzos’ condominium is on the west end of the complex facing the Shrewsbury River.
“It was a beautiful place,” Marion DeFonzo said. “We had it for 20 years. It is just awful. It looks like it is gone.”
Anthony DeFonzo said the couple jumped in to their car and drove to Sea Bright to see the devastation as soon as they heard from police.
The DeFonzos said there were only three of four permanent residents who lived at that end of the complex and most owners summered there.
Anthony DeFonzo said he had visited every weekend, but this weekend he stayed home to watch the Superbowl.
The Red Cross is set up at Borough Hall to assist evacuees.
Borough Hall, at 1167 Ocean Ave., is taking in the residents who are being evacuated from The Fountains and other surrounding complexes and businesses although there were very few people there at 9 a.m.
All Monmouth County fire companies are responding to assist in battling the blaze, which continues to burn.
Route 36 is closed for the firefighting efforts.
