Officials are investigating a fire at Tent City this evening, an official tells TLS. The fire, which was reported earlier this eveing, started inside one of the tents, but nobody was injured the official says. Last year, Rev. James Wilcox was killed at the homeless camp after his tent caught fire and earlier this year, a man critically injured in a similar incident.

Emergency personnel have responded to multiple calls of fires at the camp – located off of Cedarbridge Avenue and off Route 88 – as the homeless use flammable tanks to warm their tents.

In June, the Township of Lakewood filed a complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Ocean County, to regain possession of land parcels in the township that are being illegally occupied as homeless encampments and tent cities without the consent of the Township. Between 30 to 40 people occupy Tent City.

See video below of Bob Singer, Police Chief Rob Lawson and Fair Housing Officer Mike McNeil of STEPS visiting Tent City in July, 2009.