1 Hospitalized, 39 Displaced By Fire At Senior Living Facility In Ocean County

LAKEWOOD, NJ — One person was hospitalized after a fire forced evacuation of a senior living facility in Lakewood on Sunday evening, Lakewood police said Monday.

The fire was reported at 8:11 p.m. Sunday at Leisure Park on Route 70, Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said. The cause remains under investigation by the Ocean County fire marshal.

The fire was on the fifth floor of one of the buildings at Leisure Park, which offers independent living as well as assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care, according to its website.

One person was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning and later admitted for additional treatment, Staffordsmith said. The patient was not identified.

The building's sprinkler system activated in response to the fire and forced the evacuation of 39 people from the building, he said. Those people were accommodated in vacant areas of the facility at Leisure Park, Staffordsmith said.

The American Red Cross assisted, providing bedding for those who had been displaced, he said.

"The safety of all residents and staff remains a priority, and the facility continues to cooperate with authorities as the investigation proceeds," Staffordsmith said.

Lakewood police, the Lakewood Fire Department and Lakewood Emergency Medical Services responded.