Three families were displaced in Aberdeen and Keyport on Christmas Day after a fire broke out in their homes, officials said.
A fire engulfed a home on Woodmere Drive in the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen on Christmas Eve and flared up again hours later, said Keyport Assistant Fire Chief Ed Lewandowski, whose department helped with the response. There were no injuries.
According to the Red Cross, three people from two families have been displaced.
An overnight fire in the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen displaced residents on Christmas Day.
In the afternoon, another fire broke out on Main Street in Keyport, displacing a family of as many as 10 people and at least seven dogs, Lewandowski said. No one was injured in that incident.
“The fire pushed out both windows in the attic,” Lewandowski said of the Keyport fire. “There was also a lot of smoke and fire coming out of the front.”
The Red Cross helped families from both fires with temporary housing, food, clothing and other needs, officials said.
A fire in Keyport displaced residents and their dogs on Christmas Day.
The causes of the fires are being investigated. But Keyport Fire Chief Daniel Fox said the cold temperatures and holiday lights could create hazards.
“This time of year you can overload the power strips,” Fox said.
The Matawan-Aberdeen First Aid Squad thanked its members, as well as the Aberdeen Police Department, Aberdeen Fire, Matawan Fire, Cliffwood Fire, Morganville Fire, Keyport Fire, Keyport First Aid, Union Beach Fire, Holmdel Fire and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal for responding on the fire and other incidents Tuesday night, including an unrelated car crash.
“Your teamwork and dedication were crucial in ensuring the safety of our community during this challenging night,” read a post on social media.
Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.
Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has written about New Jersey’s economy and health care industry since 1999. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Christmas fires displace three families in Aberdeen, Keyport
