Cell Tower Catches Fire in Lincroft Thursday

Update May 23: Township Fire Marshal Buddy Skelly said the fire was accidentally caused by welding work on the tower. 

Curious students stepped out of the doors of Middletown High School South on Thursday at lunchtime to check out the cause of the black smoke darkening the sky in the distance, back behind the athletic fields. There was the sound of pops, then the fire sirens, and finally a tall tower went up in flames.

A cell tower located on the property adjacent to the Township's Fire Academy was on fire. About 30 firefighters from four companies responded to the call, which as reported at 11:14 a.m. 

Firefighters found the fire burning in the interior of the cell tower structure, said Fire Dept. spokesman John Isaksen. The fire could not be attacked until crews from Jersey Central Power arrived to shut down the power to the cell tower, he said. Once the electric power was shut off, the firefighters were able to extinguish the fire within 20 minutes. 

The cell tower sustained heavy fire damage and was not put back into service, Isaksen said.

There were no reported injuries.

The fire is being investigated by the Middletown Township Fire Prevention Bureau.