TOMS RIVER, NJ — A residential fire broke out on Kettle Creek Road Saturday evening after improperly discarded smoking materials ignited items on a windowsill, authorities said.
Key Points
- Fire on Kettle Creek Road caused by discarded smoking materials igniting items on a bathroom windowsill.
- Occupants extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived; no injuries or major damage reported.
- Toms River officials urge caution with smoking materials to prevent future fires.
The Silverton Volunteer Fire Company responded to the scene around 5 p.m. on March 22. Assistant Chief Cocco was first to arrive and confirmed that the fire had been extinguished by the occupants prior to the department’s arrival.
An investigation by Toms River Fire Prevention Investigator Kevin Britton determined that the fire originated in the bathroom. Investigators attributed the cause to careless disposal of smoking materials, which came into contact with combustible items.
Occupants reported smelling smoke for several minutes before a smoke detector on the lower level activated and alerted them to the fire.
There were no injuries, and the fire caused only minor damage. Officials confirmed the structure was safe, and no utilities were affected during the incident.
The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention continues to stress the importance of safely extinguishing smoking materials to avoid similar incidents.