Ocean Grove residents offer help to those displaced by fire

The small community of Ocean Grove is trying to help the businesses and residents who lost everything in Friday's fire that destroyed a building on Main Street.

The building was the home to Fusion Jewelry and seven apartments whose residents ranged from  a couple in their twenties to some residents who have lived there for the past 20 years according to a GoFundMe page established by Fusion to help the residents.

"Our aim with this fundraiser is to help get these residents back on their feet," according to a statement on the website.

The site states that all the residents' possessions were destroyed in the three-alarm fire at 50 Main St., which caused the roof to collapse on the three-story building.  Other businesses destroyed by fire were Village Kloset, Smuggler's Cove and Yvonne's Cafe according to the Asbury Park Press.

Seven other businesses were also damaged by the fire that took fire departments from 12 area communities to bring under control leaving three firefighters injured

Michael Bascom of the Neptune Township Office of Emergency Management tells the Press that nearly two dozen people were displaced by the fire including those in apartments adjacent to the destroyed building.

Two other businesses are also helping those affected by the fire. The Starving Artist Restaurant on Olin Street is collecting donations of food, money and clothing, according to Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry who visited the section of Neptune Township on Saturday.

The Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce has opened the Albatross Hotel for those who have been displaced "so you can have a spot in town while you figure things out, have a central spot to just be," according to post on the Chamber's Facebook page. "We have your back."

The Jersey Shore chapter of the Red Cross is also offering assistance according to a tweet from Neptune Township Police.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing by Neptune Police, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Monmouth County Fire Marshall.

MORE COVERAGE:

• Ocean Grove fire 'very devastating' to community / Asbury Park Press
• Ocean Grove fire reduces building to rubble / NJ.com