6 firefighters hurt in Keyport fire, at least 3 buildings lost

Wind-driven blaze nearly destroyed Keyport business district, mayor says. Watch video

KEYPORT -- Firefighters and utility workers were still grappling with a fire in the community's business district more than four hours after it started Friday afternoon, Mayor Harry Aumack said.

Grey smoke began filling the air around West Front Street around 4 p.m. as fire tore through a number of buildings, eventually causing a wall to collapse at one of the structures, an incident captured on an eyewitness's video and posted to social media. That building contained an upstairs apartment that was occupied but those people got out safely, Aumack said.

Firefighters were caught inside, however, said Charles Webster, a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Six firefighters all suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, but it was unclear if all were hurt in the collapse.

Winds and a ruptured gas line have complicated efforts to contain the blaze, said Aumack, who is also a Keyport firefighter. But he added the quick response of local firefighters and departments from nearly a dozen surrounding agencies  prevented the blaze from causing even more destruction. About 200 firefighters were at the scene, Webster said.

"It was really serious. With that wind it'll leap building to building. We stopped it at the firewall (between the third and fourth building). That's why our ladder was right there. That was on purpose," Aumack said. 

Had it breached that wall, Aumack added, the fire would have continued to eat through a number of adjoining structures on West Front Street.

"People wonder why Keyport has six pumpers and ladder truck. There it is right in front of you. If we don't have six pumpers and a firetruck we lose the business district," he said.

The buildings damaged in the fire, which housed five businesses, were to be demolished Friday night to help with the ongoing effort to contain the blaze, Webster said. The fire is under investigation by the prosecutor's office and Keyport fire bureau.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.

Staff writer Paul Milo contributed to this report.