6 Left Homeless By Fire In Toms River; Community Rallies To Help Them

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two families were left homeless on Sunday when a fire destroyed a home on Keats Avenue, authorities said.

There were no injuries reported, the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention said.

The Red Cross of New Jersey said in a post on X that they were helping six people from two families who were living in the home with temporary housing, food, clothing, and other immediate needs.

The two-alarm fire in the two-story home was reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. Firefighters from Toms River Fire Company No. 1, Toms River Fire Company No. 2, East Dover Fire Company, and Island Heights Fire Company were dispatched, the Toms River Fire Prevention Bureau said.

Video of the fire by DemonRacer2 shared on Facebook shows flames shooting out of a second-floor window, and photos show smoke and flames billowing from the back of the house as well.

"Thanks to the coordinated response of all six Toms River fire companies and our mutual aid partners, the fire was swiftly brought under control and confined to the building of origin, preventing further spread," the fire bureau said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, the fire bureau said.

A friend of the two families created a GoFundMe campaign to help them with the immediate costs of replacing clothing and getting into housing.

"Our hearts are with two families who have experienced an unimaginable loss," Rebecca Biebel wrote on the campaign. "In a matter of moments, their house and many of their belongings were gone."

"Thankfully, everyone is safe, but the road ahead will be long and overwhelming," she wrote.

The campaign had raised nearly $25,000 as of 10:30 a.m. Monday. Those who wish to donate can do so online.