A house in the Ocean Beach section of Toms River was damaged by a fire early Tuesday morning, prompting a multi-agency emergency response.
Authorities say the fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. on East Pelican Way. When crews arrived, they found flames burning on the outside of the home near the electrical meter. The fire was contained before it could spread further into the structure.
No one was inside the home at the time. A nearby resident noticed smoke and called 911, leading to a quick response from emergency services. No injuries were reported.
Investigators believe the fire was accidental and may have started in the home’s electrical service area. The cause remains under review by the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, with Inspector Benjamin Carlin leading the investigation.
Officials from the township’s building department later inspected the property and determined that the home is currently not safe to live in.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding communities responded to assist, along with Toms River police.