OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A fire at the Middlebrook Apartments on Saturday afternoon led to the rescue of a child from a two-story garden-style building, according to local officials. The incident, which occurred shortly after 2 p.m., prompted a large-scale response after reports of heavy smoke and potential entrapment.
Firefighters arrived to find flames concentrated on the first floor of the apartment complex, with thick smoke visible from a distance, officials said. As crews responded, updates indicated that a child was possibly trapped inside, leading to an escalation from a box alarm to a second alarm for additional resources.
“Searches were immediately conducted,” fire officials reported, confirming that the child was safely removed from the building and transferred to EMS for treatment. The child’s current condition has not been disclosed, pending further information from emergency medical personnel.
An aggressive attack on the fire was carried out by responding units, which successfully brought the blaze under control, according to officials. The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Township of Ocean District #2 Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Ocean Township Police Department.
Assistance was provided by multiple mutual aid companies during what officials described as a “difficult” operation. Further updates are expected as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.