UPDATE: Transformer Fire Knocks Out Power, Traffic Lights On Route 37 In Toms River

UPDATE, 6 p.m.: Toms River police officers are directing traffic at a number of intersections and traffic is snarled as a result of power outages that have knocked out traffic lights along Route 37 and nearby streets.

Residents told the Patch that left turns are being prohibited at some intersections because of traffic signals are out, which is slowing traffic already heavy as tourists head to Seaside Heights for the weekend.

Motorists are urged to use caution and follow the directions of police officers until power is restored and lights are operating properly.

More than 500 customers are without power as a result, according to Jersey Central Power & Light’s outage map.

More than 1,500 customers lost power for several hours Thursday night as a result of the thunderstorms that rolled through the region, including homes in areas affected by the current outage.

PREVIOUSLY: A transformer fire near the Tunney and Mathis bridges knocked out power and caused a small fire Friday afternoon, Toms River police said.

Police and fire units responded to the Tunney and Mathis bridges shortly before 3:30 p.m. for the fire, which was also caused a small fire on the grass median when sparks and wires fell to the ground, said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

The fire was quickly extinguished, he said.

However, the transformer fire also caused a power outage that affected traffic signals in the area and also in downtown Toms River, he said.

Jersey Central Power and Light crews arrived at 4:04 p.m. and they are currently working on restoring power, Stocco said.

“As of now ( 5 p.m.) power is still out in small sections of the eastern end of town as well as in downtown Toms River,” Stocco said. “Route 37 and both bridges are still passable to vehicular traffic and no detours are in place.”

There is no estimate on when power will be restored, however.

Stocco reminded residents that they should not call the police department about outages “unless this has caused a
medical situation such as nonfunctioning oxygen units or medical equipment. Please check on older relatives or neighbors who may be without air conditioning,” he said.

The JCP&L website has a map that shows outages. Click here to view it.