Fire Destroys Shed, Damages Toms River Home

(PHOTOS: Courtesy of John Novak)

A Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed a shed that contained propane tanks and a lawnmower, but damage beyond that was limited to melted siding and broken windows on the nearby house, a Toms River fire official said Thursday evening.

There were no injuries in the fire at 126 Walchest Dr., off Old Freehold Road, which was reported about 12:15 p.m., Toms River Fire Director James Mercready said.

Mercready said the homeowner told fire officials he discovered the fire about 20 minutes after retrieving items from the shed.

The 16-by-16 structure contained two propane tanks, a lawnmower and other household and yard storage items, Mercready said.

Radiant heat from the shed fire melted the siding on the two-story single-family home and caused glass to break in windows on both the first and second stories, he said. Smoke from the fire was visible in downtown Toms River.

Inspector John Novak of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention is investigating but the cause is undetermined at this time.

Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2 and the East Dover Fire Company responded to the blaze.