Firefighters from around Howell worked with assistance from Jackson and Freehold to fight a fire that claimed the lives of several animals on Kent Road Friday night. 

The Howell Police Department received a report of the fire from a passing motorist and that the house was "heavily engulfed in flames," when they arrived. 

After "several hours," of battling the fire it was determined that the homeowner was not home at the time but that "several cats and a dog are believed to have died as a result of the fire."

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Howell Police Department and the Howell Fire Bureau. The house "was a complete loss as a result of the fire," the police department reported. 

The Southard, Freewood Acres, Adelphia, Ramtown and Squankum Fire Departments responded to the fire as did two departments from Jackson and one from Freehold. Assistance was also provided by the Howell, Ramtown and Farmingdale Howell First Aid Squads as well as the Howell Fire Bureau. 

Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact Ptl. Jesse Moore at 732-938-4111 ext. 2617.