Fire Destroys Home Under Construction In Holmdel, NJ

HOLMDEL, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey family will no longer be starting off the new year in their new home after a massive fire broke out in the middle of the night.

The first call came in around 2:19 a.m. Tuesday and Holmdel, Colts Neck, Centerville and Middletown Township fire departments all responded, police said.

Flames shot out of the roof and windows of 16 Hop Brook Lane as neighbors watched entire sections of the brand new Holmdel house crumble away.

"When I woke up around 3:15 there was a lot of fire coming from all over the place," neighbor Mir Hama said.

"The fire was really big," said neighbor Michelle Delpresto. "The flames looked taller than the house coming through the roof."

Firefighters finally got the flames under control about two hours later.

The home was still under construction, so no one was inside at the time, which fire officials said helped to avoid any injuries.

The homeowners were set to move into the house in just two weeks, CBS2's Diane Macedo reported.

"It's so sad, we were hoping they would move in," Hama said. "We feel really sad for them."

"It's the saddest thing, especially before the holidays," Delpresto said. "My heart goes out to them."

The Monmouth County Fire Marshals Office, prosecutor's office and the Holmdel Detective Bureau are now investigating.

The family has not been identified, but neighbors said their children were already enrolled in the Holmdel School District.