Two Children Escape Injury In Manchester House Fire

Two children escaped injury when one of them playing with a lighter accidentally set fire to a bedroom in an Oak Knoll Drive home on Wednesday, Manchester Township Police said Thursday.

The fire began shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to Manchester Police Capt. Lisa Parker, in an upstairs bedroom and set off the home’s smoke detectors, alerting the children to leave the house, at which time they called the police.

Ridgeway, Manchester, Whiting, Lakehurst Joint Navy Base, and Lakehurst fire companies responded, and were all instrumental in containing the fire to only one room, Parker said.

Officer Anthony Illiadis, Detective Christopher Hemhauser, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Investigator Thomas Haskell, and Ocean County Fire Marshal Edward Hazelton later determined one of the juveniles accidently set the fire while playing with a lighter, Parker said.

Quality Medical assisted at the scene with the juveniles, Parker said, and there were no injuries. Manchester Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Arthur Abline and Red Cross personnel are assisting the family with their needs.