Mantoloking Fire Chief 'Stable' After Heart Attack; Blaze Destroys Home, Officials Say

MANTOLOKING, NJ -- The chief of the Mantoloking Fire Department remained hospitalized Sunday after suffering what was reported to be a heart attack while firefighters battled a blaze Saturday night.

The Mantoloking Office of Emergency Management posted a statement on Facebook Sunday reporting that Fire Chief Larry Gilman remains in the intensive care unit at Ocean Medical Center, Brick, where he is listed in stable condition, according to the news release. The Ocean County Police Fire & EMS Facebook page reported the heart attack and that he was revived Saturday, stating it was reporting the information to quell rumors.

A Bay Head firefighter also was injured while fighting the fire but was treated and released from the hospital in Brick, the news release said.

The fire at 219 Channel Lane was reported about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, according to the release. Upon arrival Mantoloking police and firefighters found the home was engulfed in flames. Initial reports gave the address as 217 Channel Lane but Sunday’s news release gave the address as 219 instead.

The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire, the release said.

Mantoloking firefighters were assisted by fire companies from Bay Head, Brick, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, and South Wall, according to the release.

The Ocean County Fire Marshall is investigating the fire, the release said.