Former Elementary School Destroyed by Blaze in Lakewood, NJ

Firefighters from Ramtown and others were ordered out of the building when part of the ceiling collapsed.

Oct. 6, 2025

2 min read

Jana Cholakovska

nj.com

(TNS)

The ceiling in a former elementary school partially collapsed Friday evening as firefighters from multiple towns battled a fire in Lakewood, officials said.

The fire at Piner Elementary School on County Line Road broke out shortly after 7 p.m. and quickly intensified, prompting a second and then third alarm as additional crews and equipment were called to the scene.

Members of the Ramtown Fire Company were among the first to arrive and helped fight the flames inside the building before being ordered out when part of the ceiling collapsed toward the back, the volunteer department said in a social media post. Firefighters remained on scene for about five hours.

Mutual aid companies from Point Pleasant, Toms River, Howell, Wall, Brick, and Jackson townships — along with the Ocean County Fire Marshals and Coordinators — responded to assist, according to Jersey Shore Fire Response, a news organization. Additional units were called from Monmouth County as the fire escalated.

The main body of fire was contained to the cafeteria section of the building, officials said. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The school occupied a building owned by the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, with a lease that concluded after the last academic year. The building had previously been home to the Holy Family School.