Fire Displaces Dozen in Lakewood Townhome Blaze
A two-alarm fire on Park Avenue destroyed one townhome and forced eight homes to be evacuated.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Emergency Response
A fire destroyed a townhome on Park Avenue in Lakewood and displaced a dozen people from six apartments across three buildings. Two adjoining structures sustained water, smoke, and minor damage, and no injuries were reported.
Why it matters
The blaze required mutual aid from neighboring municipalities, with Howell, Jackson, and Brick sending fire companies to assist local crews. It shows how a single residential fire can quickly force multiple households from their homes in Lakewood.
Eleven fire companies, five from Lakewood, fought the two-alarm blaze, with crews arriving three minutes after the 1:43 a.m. call on November 10, 2026. The cause of the fire was not identified in the available information.
The players
Lakewood Fire Department
The municipal fire service of Lakewood responded to the Park Avenue blaze with five of the eleven companies that fought the fire.
Howell Fire Department
Howell sent fire companies to assist Lakewood crews during the two-alarm response to the Park Avenue fire.
The details
Flames engulfed the back of the Park Avenue townhome, including the deck and the first and second floors. Residents of the burning home and two adjoining buildings evacuated themselves, and eight homes were evacuated in total before residents of five of them were able to return once the fire was put out.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 1:43 a.m.: Fire call received; firefighters arrived three minutes later.
November 10, 2026: Residents returned to five evacuated homes after the fire was extinguished.
Emergency Response
The Park Avenue fire drew on regional mutual aid, with Howell, Jackson, and Brick sending companies to support Lakewood's own crews. Such cross-municipal coordination is how multi-alarm residential fires in the area are typically staffed.
Residents of multi-unit buildings should confirm they know their evacuation route and have a plan to leave quickly if smoke or flames appear. Anyone displaced by a fire should contact local fire or emergency officials for guidance on available shelter and assistance.
The takeaway
A fire that spreads through shared walls can displace many households at once, so knowing exit routes in multi-unit homes matters. Keeping smoke alarms tested and maintained gives residents the earliest possible warning.
Further reading
Explore more Emergency Response coverage in Lakewood.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Asbury Park Press.
