Fire Forces 12 People From Toms River Apartments

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Twelve people were forced from their apartments on Wednesday following an accidental kitchen fire in an apartment at The Willows in Toms River, officials said.

Firefighters from the Pleasant Plains Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation at 2:23 p.m. Wednesday, said Matthew Janora, chief inspector for the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention.

As firefighters were responding, authorities received more calls reporting heavy smoke coming from one of the apartments, so additional firefighters from the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, East Dover Fire Company, Toms River Fire Company No. 2, and Whitesville Fire Company were called in, Janora said.

The first firefighters confirmed a small grease fire had started on the stove and spread to the microwave housing, activating the sprinkler ut head in the kitchen. The sprinkler extinguished most of the fire and contained it to the area above stove, Janora said.

The firefighters shut down the sprinkler system, secured the power to the affected units, and ventilated the building.

Janora said the firefighters operated for about 2 hours.

The Toms River Building Department ruled three apartments unsafe due to water damage from the sprinkler system, he said.

The fire was ruled accidental, due to unattended cooking on the electric stovetop, he said.

The American Red Cross and Toms River Office of Emergency Management responded and provided assistance to the residents who were displaced, Janora said.

"As chief inspector of the Fire Prevention Bureau, I would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that you should never leave the kitchen when you’re cooking on the stove," he said, adding unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires across the country.

Janora also said it was the second fire in the past week that was extinguished and/or held in check by the building fire sprinkler system.

"This shows that properly maintained and fully functional fire alarm and sprinkler systems protect lives and property," he said. "Had the sprinkler system not activated, the outcome of this fire may have been much different."