The blaze caused significant water damage to Seabreeze Wines & Spirits on the ground floor. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
A resident escaped safely and volunteer firefighters suffered a few cuts and scratches as fire destroyed several apartments above a Sea Bright liquor store late Sunday night.
Firefighters responded to the alarm shortly before 11 p.m. to find “full-blown fire out the windows” of the second floor, fire Chief Joe Eskridge tells redbankgreen.
The blaze occurred at 1060 Ocean, above Seabreeze Wine & Spirits, in the midst of a downtown block of businesses that has been resurgent since Hurricane Sandy wiped out the entire commercial district in October, 2012.
The liquor store took on significant water damage, Eskridge said.
Borough volunteers were joined by firefighters from Rumson, Fair Haven, Middletown, Highlands, Monmouth Beach and Tinton Falls, who brought the fire under control in less than 45 minutes, Eskridge said.
Eskridge said he did not know if several pets reported to be living in the apartments made it out.
An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire, he said.
