Alba's Pub Severely Damaged By Morning Fire: Manchester Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A fire early Friday caused severe damage to Alba's Pub in the Ridgeway section of Manchester, police said.

Police responding to an interior motion burglar alarm at 7:22 a.m. found smoke billowing from the restaurant at 2313 Route 547, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

Heavy smoke was coming from the roof and eaves of the building, he said.

Firefighters from Manchester, Ridgeway, Whiting, Lakehurst, Pleasant Plains, and Toms River volunteer fire departments as well as firefighters from the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire.

Alba’s sustained heavy fire, smoke, and water damage, Malland said.

Route 547 was closed for nearly two hours while between Route 70 and Ridgeway Road while suppression and overhaul operations were conducted.

Also assisting at the scene were EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Medical Services and police officers from the Lakehurst Police Department.

The exact cause and origin of the fire is being investigated by Manchester Detective Joseph Fastige with the assistance of members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office.

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