UPDATE: Silverton Residents Safe After Monday Fire

A Silverton home was deemed unsafe after an accidental Monday afternoon fire ignited in a bedroom, though the two residents inside at the time are safe.

Fire apparatus from Toms River's five mainland fire companies responded to the scene at 30 Lagoon Drive West at 2:30 p.m. to battle the blaze ignited by a power strip failure, according Toms River Fire Prevention Director Jim Mercready.

"No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported, however a dog was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment," Mercready said Monday.

Toms River Chief of Police Michael Mastonardy later said that the dog did not survive.

The blaze was ruled accidental and attributed to the failure of a power strip in a bedroom.

"The homeowner, Joseph Degeorge exited the home after dialing 911 to report the fire that started in a bedroom," Mastronardy said.

The home is currently deemed an unsafe structure, according to Mercready. 

Mercready stressed that the two residents inside the home — the home owner and his 20-year-old son — were alerted by properly-functioning smoke detectors, giving them the time needed to escape.  

"It is extremely important that residents have operable smoke detectors that are checked regularly," he said.

Inspector John Novak of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention investigated the blaze.