3 Injured In Fire At Willow Springs Rehab In Brick: Fire Officials

BRICK, NJ — Three people suffered minor injuries Tuesday in an electrical fire at the Willow Springs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, fire officials said.

A staff member and two residents were taken to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick for treatment, Brick Bureau of Fire Safety Chief Kevin Batzel and Assistant Chief Richard Orlando said.

The fire at the 148-unit facility on Burnt Tavern Road was reported at 5:57 a.m., officials said.

Assistant Fire Chief Tom Thieme Jr. saw smoke coming from a second-floor room and the facility was evacuated, and arriving firefighters under the command of Chief David Bahrenburg were able to quickly bring it under control and contain it to the room where it started with only minor smoke damage, officials said.

The facility, with the exception of the room where the fire happened, was able to resume normal operations, officials said.

Inspector Robert Kurilla determined the fire started in a light fixture, officials said.

Batzel and Orlando said the quick actions of the Willow Springs staff were commendable.

"Due to their quick response, only minor injuries are reported and damage was contained to the fire origin room," they said.

The incident also reinforced the importance of having fire evacuation plans and of conducting regular fire drills to practice them, they said.

All four Brick Township fire departments, the Brick Bureau of Fire Safety, Brick Township Police and EMS and the Brick Township Office of Emergency Management responded.