Fire Destroys Apartment in Prospect Point Gardens near Lake Lefferts

Two apartments in Prospect Point Gardens, a brick complex that overlooks Lake Lefferts, are uninhabitable after a fire Saturday, according to Matawan Deputy Fire Chief Brian Bernath.

The fire was reported just after 9 p.m. on June 8 and the first fire trucks on the scene confirmed that there was a bedroom fire in a ground floor apartment, explained Bernath, who was the incident commander. 

Patti Fernicola, a resident of Prospect Point Gardens, was returning home after spending time with her sister when she saw the commotion. 

"I kind of lost it and just starting running," she said, adding that she was scared more for her two cats than for her belongings. 

"There were fire trucks all over," she said. "It was mayhem. Well, organized mayhem I'm sure. It was crazy."

Firefighters were able to save her two cats from her apartment, which is a floor above and a unit over from where the fire happened. 

The fire department was also able to rescue a hamster, according to Bernath. 

Flames were contained to the bedroom of unit 25, however the apartment directly above sustained smoke damage. The entire section of the complex had to be evacuated and utilities were turned off until Monday morning, Bernath explained. The Red Cross responded to make sure all displaced residents had temporary shelter. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Keyport Fire Department and Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) from Union Beach and North Centerville responded to the scene along with EMS from Keyport, Union Beach and North Centerville.

Fernicola is happy that no one was hurt, but was frustrated to be displaced from her home. 

"It's like Sandy all over again," she said.