House Fire Puts Rehabilitation Center On Alert In Toms River: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A fire that broke out just after the end of the Toms River Halloween parade Monday night significantly damaged a vacant house on Oliver Street, Toms River police said Tuesday morning.

Police and firefighters responded to a smoke condition near Community Medical Center and Health South Rehabilitation shortly after 9 p.m. and upon arrival found the smoke was coming from a single family home at 26 Oliver Street, Toms River Police Department spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Multiple fire units responded, he said. Trucks from Toms River Fire Company 2 pulled away from the station on Water Street with lights and sirens as paradegoers were still returning to their cars, and ambulances could be seen hurrying west on Route 37 to assist.

The blaze was brought under control at 9:45 p.m. The house had been vacant for the last year, Stocco said.

The home's close proximity to Health South Rehabilitation Center initially prompted an evacuation order as a precautionary measure, Stocco said, but it was changed to a shelter in place as patients were moved to the opposite side of the building.

Once police and firefighters thoroughly evaluated the fire scene, he said, there was no need for an evacuation.

Investigators will be on the scene throughout the day as they continue their evaluations and try to determine the cause, Stocco said.

Map via Google Maps; police lights image via Shutterstock