Toms River Residents Return To Apartments After Fire: Officials

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Four days after a fire sent them into the frigid temperatures on Thanksgiving morning, residents of the Highland Plaza apartments were able to return home, authorities said Monday afternoon.

The fire, which authorities said was caused by careless smoking, set off automatic alarms shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday, authorities have said.

Damage was primarily contained to one unit on the fourth floor where the fire started, said Chief Inspector Kevin Esposito, but smoke and water damage to a number of apartments in Tower C kept other residents away while cleanup efforts were completed. Esposito said 75 percent of the building suffered water and smoke damage and was uninhabitable.

Paul Daley, emergency managment coordinator for Toms River's Office of Emergency Management, said the residents had been able to return to their homes after lumchtime.

One resident was taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation; that person's status was not immediately available.

Initially 100 residents were evacuated and were taken by bus to Toms River High School South for temporary shelter on Thursday. Some went to stay with family or friends and the remainder were assisted with temporary shelter elsewhere, officials said.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com

Follow us on Facebook. Click here to like our page.

Photo of Highland Plaza via Google Maps