TOMS RIVER, NJ — A fire broke out Wednesday morning at Tri City Plaza shopping center on Route 9, prompting a swift response from the Pleasant Plains Fire Department and temporary closure of the building.
Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 11:31 a.m. after a fire alarm was activated and additional reports of smoke coming from the pump room at the rear of the shopping center were received. Upon arrival, crews found smoke inside the fire sprinkler room and quickly extinguished the blaze using a single 1-3/4” hand line. The building’s fire sprinkler system successfully contained the damage to the room of origin.
No injuries to civilians or emergency personnel were reported. However, the fire damaged critical life safety systems within the building, leading the Toms River Building Department to deem the structure unsafe to occupy until the fire alarm and suppression systems are repaired. Efforts to restore the systems and minimize disruption to businesses are already underway.
An investigation by Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention Inspector DeEsposito determined that the fire was accidental, caused by a mechanical failure of the diesel-powered fire pump located in the sprinkler room.
For additional information regarding the incident, contact Chief Inspector Janora of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention at TRFirePrevention@trfire.org or (732) 240-5153.