2 Dogs Died in Cliffwood Beach Fire Thursday

Cliffwood Beach, NJ - Two dogs died in the fire that engulfed a home Thursday afternoon in Cliffwood Beach, police confirmed to Patch.

The dogs are believed to be pit bulls, Aberdeen Township Police Chief John Powers said Friday morning. Witnesses to the fire said they saw the dogs carried out from the home in body bags. As Patch first reported, the house fire occurred on the 900 block of Malden Drive, and was called in at 2:25 p.m. A lone male occupant was inside the home when the fire started, but he was able to escape.

Chief Powers said that, according to reports from the scene, the man did make an attempt to rescue the dogs.

"When firefighters go there, the house was fully engulfed in flames," he said Friday morning. "There was an indication he did try to get the dogs out, but was unable. An attempt was made."

He did not know where in the home the dogs were found.

The fire remains under investigation and no charges have been filed, he said. The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office is currently assisting with the investigation. However, if anyone witnessed anything or would like to contact Aberdeen police, they are asked to call the Aberdeen police at (732) 566-2054 and ask for the detective's bureau.