Garage Fire Engulfs Home, Vehicles In Silver Ridge: Police

BERKELEY, NJ — A garage fire engulfed a Silver Ridge home and vehicles and hospitalized homeowners Thursday night, Berkeley police said.

Ptl. Richard Zieser responded to a home on Southampton Road at 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, police said. Zieser, the first officer on the scene, told dispatch that the house and several vehicles were "fully engulfed," police said.

Zieser and Ptl. Tasso immediately made sure the home's occupants and neighbors were evacuated to safety, police said.

The Manitou Park Fire Department, Bayville Fire Department, Pinewald Pioneer Fire Department and the Toms River Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze.

Video of the fire, shared on YouTube by Jersey Shore Fire Response, shows the home's roof appearing to be missing as the departments continue to extinguish the flames.

Berkeley Township EMS and South Toms River EMS assisted on scene and took the homeowners to Community Medical Center for smoke inhalation, police said.

The fire was investigated by Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office as well as Berkeley Township Detectives.

According to police, preliminary investigation indicates that the fire was accidental and began in the garage before spreading to the rest of the house and the vehicles in the driveway.