Huge Fire at Buhler Jeep on Rt. 35 in Hazlet

Route 35 is closed in both directions between Holmdel Rd. and Hazlet Ave. Rear of the dealership was engulfed in flames. The roof has collapsed.

Firefighters are battling a fire in the rear of the Buhler car dealership that was first reported by Hazlet Police at 5:15 a.m. Saturday morning.

Route 35 is closed in both directions, between Holmdel Road and Hazlet Ave., as firefighters douse the fire with hoses from ladder trucks.

Tall flames could be seen in the rear of the building around 5:30 a.m. Huge clouds of black smoke drifted over the highway towards Middletown and Keyport.

The fire is believed to have started in the mechanic’s garage, behind the new car showroom, said Hazlet First Assistant Township Chief Andrew Christ. The roof of the rear section of the building has collapsed.

“This is an all-hands type fire situation,” said Christ. Responding companies attacked the fire from the exterior and continued to douse the structure more than two hours later.

The fire and heat was so intense that at least one homeowner on Roosevelt, a residential street behind the dealership, said he has fire damage on his roof.

At least one firefighter was taken to Bayshore Community Hospital for smoke inhalation, said Christ.

Present at the scene were Hazlet Fire Co. #1, North Centerville, W. Keansburg, Keansburg, Keport, Middletown, Matawan Boro, Aberdeen and Atlantic Highlands, Midway, Union Beach, Keyport, Belford, Navesink, Port Monmouth, Leonardo, Middletown, Earle NWS, as well as the towns’ first aid squads and the Monmouth County EMS.

Rapid Intervention Teams from Union Beach, Matawan, Keyport and Earle were present to protect the safety of the firefighters