Toms River Strip Mall Fire Ruled Accidental: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The fire that destroyed a Toms River strip mall and its five businesses has been ruled accidental, the Ocean County prosecutor's office announced Wednesday.

The fire that destroyed the Ocean National Plaza at Route 9 and Cox Cro Road on July 9 was traced to the overhang at BJ's Cleaners, the dry cleaning shop at the center, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

Investigators could not eliminate the possibility that a short-circuit in electrical equipment caused the fire, he said, resulting in the ruling that it was accidental.

Della Fave said authorities initially labeled the fire suspicious based on witness accounts describing suspicious activity in the area of the mall that they felt contributed to the fire.

"After a thorough scene examination and review of area surveillance video, these witness accounts proved to be inaccurate," he said.

The fire that was reported Monday, July 9, just after midnight, destroyed the dry cleaner and four other businesses: Esposito’s Pizza; Azteca Mexican Restaurant and Bakery, Wing Far Chinese restaurant, and Kokomo Nail Spa.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire coming from the front of the structure's roof and it spread rapidly, he said.

The scene examination and investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Fire Prevention Bureau and the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office Arson / K-9 Unit.

Della Fave said the prosecutor’s office has received "countless inquiries" from customers of BJ's Cleaner requesting information on how to receive compensation for clothing destroyed in the fire.

BJ Pak, the owner of BJ’s Cleaners, issued the following, he said:

"To our valued customers,

As you know, fire destroyed the entire building on July 9th, 2018 including BJ’s Cleaners. The cause of the fire was not caused by any negligence by myself or any of my staff. I apologize for any inconvenience and loss that you have suffered.

At the direction of my insurance company, Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Company, they have advised me to gather the following information as quickly as possible. Until Nationwide reviews and decides as to how claims will be handled, they have requested the following:

• Your name
• Your address
• A contact phone number
• A list of the articles of clothing with a detailed as possible a description of the same.
• The approximate value and age of the article.
• Your laundry ticket
• If possible, your email address.

Please forward your response to these questions to: BJPAK1234@gmail.com.

Please be aware that any action taken by the undersigned should not be construed as a waiver of the rights of BJ’s cleaners nor an admission of liability.

This has been and continues to be a terrible hardship for my family and myself. I appreciate your patience throughout this process.

Thank you for your business and I look forward to rebuilding my store and to serve you in the future.

BJ Pak
And the staff of BJ’s Cleaners"

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Photo via Toms River Fire Company 1