BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – A house fire on Thursday has been deemed accidental by the Berkeley Township Police Department. The fire, which started in the garage of the Holiday City home, spread to the home. Occupants of the home suffered from smoke inhalation.
Manitou Park Fire Department, Bayville Fire Department, Pinewald Pioneer Fire Department, and Toms River Fire Department responded to the incident and extinguished the fire.
The Berkeley Township EMS and South Toms River EMS assisted on the scene and transported the homeowners to the Community Medical Center for smoke inhalation treatment.
According to police, at approximately 9:30 pm, officers were dispatched to Southampton Road in the Silver Ridge section of Berkeley Township for a report of a structure fire. As the first officer on the scene, Patrolman Richard Zieser informed dispatch that the house and several vehicles had been fully engulfed in flames.
Patrolmen Zieser and Tasso immediately evacuated all occupants of the residence and those in the surrounding area.
Berkeley Township Detectives and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire.