Kitchen Fire Severely Damages Manchester Man's Home: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — Investigators believe cooking left unattended caused a kitchen fire that badly damaged a Whiting home Tuesday evening, leaving the home uninhabitable for the man who lived there, Manchester police said Wednesday.

Manchester police responded to a report of a kitchen fire at 2 B Colorado Way in the Cedar Glen Lakes section of the township shortly after 7 p.m., Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said. Patrolman Brian Collins, who was first on the scene, saw flames in the kitchen and heavy smoke throughout the residence, Malland said.

Collins confirmed that no one was in the home and also verified that no one was home in the adjoining unit, he said.

Members of the Whiting and Lakehurst Borough Volunteer fire companies responded and extinguished the fire, and their prompt response enabled them to contain the fire and associated damage to the kitchen area, Malland said.

The preliminary investigation revealed the cause of the fire, which is believed to have begun in the area of range, appears to be unattended cooking, and as such it has been deemed not suspicious, he said.

The Manchester Township building inspector surveyed the damage and deemed the residence temporarily uninhabitable; the resident, who was not injured, is staying with family, Malland said.

Assisting at the scene were firefighters from Whiting and Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Companies, EMTs from Quality Medical Transport, the Ocean County Fire Marshal, the Manchester Township building inspector and Manchester Township Emergency Management.

Photos via Manchester Township Police