UPDATE: Animals Perish As Fire Destroys Barn In Manchester Amid Storm

(Photo credit: Manchester Township Police Department)

UPDATE, 6:30 p.m.: Firefighters from seven fire companies battled a stubborn blaze in a Whiting barn in the midst of the snowstorm on Thursday, but the fire destroyed the barn and killed several animals inside, Manchester police said Thursday evening.

Police were alerted to the fire at 318 Beckerville Road about 11:45 a.m., said Capt. Todd Malland, and upon arrival found out from the barn’s owners there were animals inside the barn, which was fully involved.

A home nearby was safely evacuated and none of its residents were injured, he said.

A horse that was in the barn escaped unharmed, Malland said, and the owner was able to corral it at the rear of property. But contrary to reports on social media, once the fire was extinguished, firefighters discovered several animals inside the barn had perished, including at least three dogs, two goats and an unknown number of cats and chickens, he said.

The Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office has deemed the fire not suspicious, but the exact cause remains under investigation.

Responding to extinguish the blaze were members from the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Department, New Egypt Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Bamber Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, Cassville Volunteer Fire Department, and Jackson Mills Volunteer Fire Department. Also assisting were members of the Whiting Volunteer First Aid, officers from the Ocean County Sheriff’s and Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office as well as arson investigators from the Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau. Manchester Township Animal Control Officer. Dsg. Larry Donato of the ASPCA also responded and assisted at the scene, Malland said.

PREVIOUSLY:

Firefighters continue to fight a midday fire that has destroyed a barn in Manchester, police said Thursday afternoon.

The structure fire on Beckerville Road was reported at 11:45 a.m., Capt. Todd Malland of the Manchester Police Department said. Firefighters from the Whiting Volunteer, Ridgeway Volunteer, Jackson Mills and New Egypt fire companies were on the scene fighting the fire, which was under control but not completely extinguished as of 1 p.m., he said.

Reports on the Ocean County Police, Fire & EMS Facebook page said the weather was hampering the efforts of firefighters, who reportedly had to call in a tanker truck to get additional water on the fire.

Animals were in the barn at the time the fire began, and reports on Facebook say the animals escaped. Malland could not confirm those reports.