Witnessed reported seeing a man performing roof work on top of a building just before it erupted into a massive fire in Keyport's business district on Friday. Watch video
KEYPORT -- A man who was performing roofing work to a West Front Street building before it erupted in a massive blaze Friday did not have permits for the job, authorities said Tuesday.
Andrew Mayer, 28, of Toms River, was charged with working without a permit, working without a license and driving without a license, Charles Webster, spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, said in an email.
Authorities did not say whether Mayer caused the blaze that damaged at least five buildings in the borough's business district and left a total of nine people -- eight firefighters and one Salvation Army worker -- hospitalized.
"The investigation ... remains active and ongoing," Webster said. "No determination has been made about the cause of the fire."
Authorities learned of Mayer after witnesses at the scene reported seeing a man doing roofing work on the building just before the fire broke out, Webster said.
Andrew Mayer, 28, of Toms River. (New Jersey State Police)Mayer is currently facing charges of animal cruelty and criminal mischief in connection with a March 1, 2015, incident in which his pickup truck submerged in the frozen Toms River, killing his pet dog. Authorities have said Mayer was seen doing doughnuts on the river before the truck fell in.
The blaze began shortly before 4 p.m. Friday and quickly spread to nearby buildings. About 200 firefighters responded to the scene and worked for more than four hours to extinguish the stubborn fire. Keyport Mayor Harry Aumack, who is also a firefighters, said at the time that strong winds and a ruptured gas line complicated efforts to contain the blaze.
While battling the fire, a portion of the building collapsed, injuring two firefighters. They were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. In all, eight firefighters and one Salvation Army worker were hospitalized and treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Though three apartment units were located atop the buildings, no residents were injured during the fire.
Three of the remaining structures, located at 43 and 45 West Front Street, have extensive fire damage, Webster said. At least two other buildings were destroyed and demolished. On Saturday, crews were still working to remove the charred remains from those buildings.
Keyport Borough Administrator Stephen Gallo told the Asbury Park Press on Monday the fire caused approximately $613,000 in property damages.
The Salvation Army and American Red Cross are helping residents displaced by the fire find housing.
The fire remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office, Keyport Police Department and Keyport Fire Prevention Bureau.
The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office and its Office of Emergency Management, Mobile Command Unit and Monmouth County EMS Task Force assisted at the scene. The following fire companies also responded to the fire: Keyport, Aberdeen, Cliffwood Beach, NWS Earle, Hazlet, Holmdel, Matawan, Middletown, North Centerville, Sayreville, West Keansburg and Union Beach.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.