Fire That Damaged Toms River Home Ruled Accidental

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A two-alarm fire that damaged a Toms River home on Friday night has been ruled accidental, Toms River fire officials said.

The fire at a three-story home on Sandy Place was reported at 7:44 p.m. Friday, according to Matthew Janora, chief inspector with the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention.

Flames were visible from the third floor of the home when firefighters from the East Dover Fire Company arrived, he said.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, stretching more than 2,200 feet of fire hose to supply fire apparatus at the scene because of a lack of fire hydrants in that area, Janora said, but the upper level of the home was damaged.

There were no injuries reported, he said.

The fire was ruled accidental, caused by "a failure of energized electrical equipment," he said.

The fire is being investigated by Inspector Benjamin Carlin of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and Patrolman Fallano of the Toms River Police Department.

Also responding to the fire were the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company 1, Pleasant Plains Volunteer Fire Department, Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, Toms River Fire Dept. Company 1, Ocean Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Manitou Park Volunteer Fire Company and Toms River Police Department.