Electrical Short Blamed In Silverton Road Fire: Toms River Fire Official

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A fire that destroyed a detached garage and left a Silverton Road home uninhabitable has been ruled accidental, authorities said Thursday.

The fire Wednesday at 1401 Silverton Road started in the garage, Kevin Esposito, lead fire inspector and lead official of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, said Thursday. Esposito said inspectors ruled it was caused by a short-circuit in electrical equipment in the garage.

The fire was reported at 4:28 p.m. Wednesday, Toms River Police Department spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Esposito said firefighters from the Pleasant Plains and Silverton fire companies responded and were assisted by Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2, the East Dover Fire Company, and the Island Heights Fire Company. Chief Jeff Cirz of Toms River Fire Company 2 said firefighters found the garage fully involved with fire extending to the house.

The garage was completely destroyed, Esposito said, and the home was significantly damaged, leaving it uninhabitable. The residents of the house had escaped the fire and there were no injuries reported to either civilians or firefighters, Esposito said.

Inspector Charles Bauer of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, along with Toms River Police Detectives Thomas DeMichele and Roger Hull investigated the fire, Esposito said.

Photo via Toms River Police Department