Pine Ridge Brush Fire Cause Undetermined, Manchester Police Say

A brush fire burned 3 acres of woods near the Pine Ridge sales office in the Whiting section Monday afternoon, Manchester police said Tuesday.

Police dispatch received several calls reporting flames visible in the woods not far from the sales office shortly before 5 p.m., Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said, and Officer Kyle Richvalsky responded to the area of Fox Street and saw the fire burning.

Firefighters from the Whiting Fire Company and the New Jersey State Forest Services were quickly able to extinguish the flames along the lake across from the sales office.

Manchester Police Detective Adam Guker, along with investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, State Forest Service and the Ocean County Fire Marshal responded to the scene. The Ocean County Sherrif’s Office Crime Scene Invesactigations (CSI) unit responded and assisted with processing the scene for evidence.

According to investigators, the source of the fire was an unknown type of open flame. There was no reported damage to any residences or property, Malland said, and there were no evacuations needed. No injuries were reported.

The original call came in from the NJ State Forest Fire Service, after a spotter from one of their fire towers noticed the blaze and contacted authorities.

(Photos: Manchester Township Police)