Brush Fire Near Utility Pole Closes Oak Ridge Parkway In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — One lane of Oak Ridge Parkway was closed near Route 37 Wednesday afternoon while crews repaired a utility pole damaged by a fire, Toms River police said.

The fire initially was reported as having been caused by a motor vehicle crash, Lt. Gene Bachonski said.

Police officers who responded to the 1 p.m. report found a 20-foot by 20-foot brush fire and a live wire, he said. Oak Ridge Parkway was closed in both directions at Sands Point Drive for about 40 minutes while firefighters extinguished the fire, he said.

The downed wire caused a power outage for nearby homes, authorities said.

Bachonski said the investigation so far "does not support the report of a crash causing the fire."

The investigation is continuing, he said.