Fire Destroys Pine Beach K9 Officer's Home, Injures Police Dog

BEACHWOOD, NJ — A Pine Beach police officer's K9 partner and his other dog were injured early Saturday morning in fire that destroyed the police officer's home, and the community is rallying its support.

Pine Beach Police Officer Russell Okinsky's partner, K9 Keto, is being treated at veterinary hospital after the German shepherd and Okinsky's other dog, Lola, a mixed breed, were trapped in Okinsky's Ship Avenue home when the fire broke out early Saturday morning, according to friends.

The Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department said the fire was reported about 1:20 a.m. and firefighters found a "well-involved room and contents fire."

Both dogs were and taken by EMS personnel for further treatment, the Beachwood Fire Department said. One Beachwood firefighter suffered a minor injury during the fire, the department said. Okinsky and his family escaped, officials said. Pine Beach police said the dogs had been trapped in the basement and are being treated at Garden State Veterinary Services pet hospital for smoke inhalation.

Pine Beach officials introduced Keto and Okinsky as his partner in June.

Sue DesMarais, president of the K9 Valor Task Force, a nonprofit organization that provides pet oxygen masks to fire departments and bulletproof vests for police K9s, said in a post on Facebook that Okinsky lost all his clothing and possessions in the fire. Donations of clothing and gift cards are being accepted at the Beachwood First Aid Building at 4 Beachwood Dr., and there is a donation drive through the K9 Valor Task Force Facebook page. (The link is at the bottom of the article.) Okinsky wears size 34 Regular pants, size large shirts, socks and size 14 shoes.

Pine Beach police said they have been receiving calls offering help and said monetary donations can be made through the department's Police Benevolent Association.

Checks or money orders only (no cash) should be make out to PBA 253 with, "Officer Okinsky" written in the memo. They can be mailed to P.O. Box 253, Beachwood, NJ 08722.

"We wish to thank our amazing community and the surrounding communities for their continued support," the Pine Beach Police Department said on Facebook.

"Russell is also my K-9 Valor Task Force Vice President and I honestly could not love that kid more if he was my own blood," DesMarais wrote on Facebook. She said the community is planning other ways to help Okinsky.

The Beachwood, Pine Beach, Manitou Park fire companies and Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2 responded and the fire was under control in about 45 minutes, the Beachwood Fire Department said.

"We would also like to commend the valiant efforts by other emergency services who were on scene," Pine Beach police said. They were: South Toms River EMS, Toms River First Aid Squad, East Dover First Aid Squad. "Thanks to Lanoka Harbor EMS for handling Beachwood medical calls, allowing Beachwood EMS to help our officer and his family."

The fire is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office and the Beachwood Police Department, the fire department said.

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K9 Keto gets a hug from Pine Beach Police Officer Russell Okinsky, photo by Sue DesMarais. Fire photos by Kaitlynn Basso, published with permission; other photos of Keto with Okinksy via Pine Beach borough official Facebook page