JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Firefighters battled intense flames and water supply issues Tuesday evening after a large fire broke out at a large apartment complex under construction in the Club at Jackson development on Mantoloking Drive. The blaze, reported shortly after 7:15 p.m., quickly engulfed one side of the three-story structure, forcing crews to scramble for alternative water sources when no working fire hydrants were available nearby.
According to reports, one man was arrested on the scene for tampering with fire hoses. That person’s name has yet to be released by Jackson police officials.
Responding units arrived to find the unfinished building heavily involved, with flames shooting from the upper floors and spreading through exposed framing.
Fire officials noted the lack of active hydrants in the newly built section of the neighborhood complicated initial firefighting efforts, forcing crews to establish water shuttles from distant sources and call in tanker trucks to maintain flow.
Adding to the hazard, firefighters encountered two propane tanks near the fire scene, prompting additional safety measures and the evacuation of nearby workers and residents.
“Without active hydrants, it took coordinated efforts between multiple departments to sustain water pressure and prevent the fire from spreading further,” one official said, according to Jersey Shore Online, the official newspaper of Jackson Township.
This is not the first tragedy at the Club at Jackson. In 2023, powerful storms demolished a building at the site.
Photos by Jessica Canada via @jacksonnj Facebook page.
Departments from across Jackson Township responded, including volunteer and career firefighters from several local districts. Mutual aid was provided by Freehold Independent Fire Company and the Joint Base Fire Department, which sent apparatus to assist at the scene and to cover other parts of town during the emergency. The coordinated response helped contain the fire before it could threaten nearby occupied homes.
By late evening, the blaze was declared under control. Crews remained on site for several hours conducting overhaul operations and checking for hot spots. No injuries were reported among construction personnel, firefighters, or nearby residents.
Jackson 21, announced decades ago, promised Jackson residents a downtown center, theaters, a central park, shops, and commercial retail ratables. To date, only thousands of apartments have been built, and there is currently no real plan to build the town center by the former visionary and project founder, Mitch Leigh.
• Large fire broke out at condo building under construction in Jackson.
• Firefighters faced delays due to lack of working hydrants in the new development.
• No injuries reported; cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Officials have not yet determined the origin of the fire, though investigators from Jackson Fire Districts and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office were on scene late into the night. Early reports suggest the structure sustained heavy damage to its upper floors and roof area.
Jackson fire officials expressed gratitude to all responding departments for their swift assistance, emphasizing the challenges of battling a major structure fire in an area where infrastructure is still being completed.
“Hydrant availability remains a concern in ongoing construction zones,” one commander noted. “We’ll be reviewing protocols to ensure adequate fire protection as these developments progress.”
The investigation into the cause of the Mantoloking Drive blaze continues.