Firefighter Burned During New Year's Day Fire In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Silverton firefighter suffered several burns while trying to search a home during a house fire that broke out New Year's morning in Toms River, fire company officials said.

Mike Mooney, a firefighter with the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, was burned after a flashover happened during a search for three residents who were unaccounted for at the 15th Street home, Silverton Fire Company officials said in a post on the company's Facebook page. The three people were later found to be safe and unharmed.

He was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released without issue, and is home resting with family and is expected to make a quick recovery, the post said.

The fire was reported about 5:15 a.m., according to Ocean County Scanner News. When Silverton firefighters arrived, Fire Capt. John Keating along with Mooney and firefighters Max Kenny, Jason Goldstein and Salem Bahr went into the home to try to search for the three people who initial reports said were unaccounted for.

"During this search, conditions quickly deteriorated, prompting an immediate evacuation of fire department crews from the structure," the post said. Mooney suffered burns; News 12 New Jersey reported four other firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion.

Toms River Fire Company 2, which responded as well, said the house was "heavily involved" when the fire companies arrived. Photos from the fire company show it was significantly damaged.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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Photos by Toms River Fire Company 2, published with permission