MIDDLETOWN – A fire that began in a large storage room at St. Mary’s Grammar School in the New Monmouth section is under investigation by the Middletown Township Fire Prevention office.
The Middletown Township Fire Department responded at 8:23 p.m. on Tuesday to find a heavy volume of smoke in the hallways of the main lobby area. Several activities were occurring in the school last night, but everyone exited the building and nobody was hurt.
There was minor smoke and water damage to other areas of the building, according to the MTFD.
The firefighter used a series of fans to ventilate the toxic smoke from the structure.
Chief Rick Hibell declared the fire under control at 8:45 p.m.  The last units cleared the scene by 10 p.m. Approximately 55 firefighters from four companies of the Middletown Township Fire Department (Belford Independent, Belford Engine, Community and Port Monmouth Fire Companies) responded.
Assisting on the scene were the Middletown Township Fire Department’s Fire Police and Air Support Units. The Middletown, Port Monmouth, and Leonardo First Aid Squads stood by during the incident.
