Massage Facility Fire In Toms River Ruled Accidental

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Oil-soaked towels that caught fire in a dryer have been blamed as the cause of an accidental blaze at a massage facility on Tuesday, Toms River officials said.

The fire at Massage & Wellness at 1214 Route 37 East was in the back of the business, said Kevin Esposito, chief fire inspector with the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention.

Firefighters determined the building’s fire sprinkler system activated, which minimized damage. The source of the fire was a dryer; Esposito said firefighters extinguished the remaining fire. The business sustained moderate smoke and water damage.

Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2, along with East Dover Fire Company, Pleasant Plains Fire Company, Silverton Fire Company and Ocean Beach Fire Company, responded to the fire. Chief Michael Muttie was commanding officer; Assistant Chief John Novak of Toms River Fire Company 2 was first to arrive.

The fire investigation by Richard Foster of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, Chris Bonner of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Jesse Lampf of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the cause of the fire was accidental, caused by spontaneous ignition of oil-soaked towels inside the dryer.

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