FREEHOLD — Firefighters from dozens of departments across Monmouth County were called to a prolonged industrial fire at Beacon Scrap Metal on Throckmorton Street, where crews worked from midafternoon Thursday into early morning Friday to extinguish burning debris.
The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. on December 11 and was not fully cleared until about 2:30 a.m. on December 12. Authorities said no injuries were reported.
According to Monmouth County Fire Marshal Fred Migliaccio, the fire ignited within a densely packed scrap metal pile, creating challenging conditions for firefighters due to limited access.
“The confined layout slowed initial operations, but once crews were able to reposition the material and reach the core of the fire, they were able to make significant progress,” Migliaccio said.
Large plumes of smoke were visible across the borough for hours as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and eliminate lingering hot spots. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The response included roughly 100 firefighters and a significant amount of equipment, including ladder and tower trucks, multiple engines, rescue units and rapid intervention teams assigned for firefighter safety.
Support was also provided by the Monmouth County Hazardous Materials Team, the Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit, county public works crews and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Officials said the coordinated effort from local, county and state agencies was critical in bringing operation to a close.
