Officials: Object Placed Too Close to Dryer Caused Toms River Fire

Fire officials say a combustible object placed too close to a dryer caused a fire at the home at 2027 Windsor Avenue Tuesday morning.

Jim Mercready, Director of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, said Inspector Kevin Britton conducted an investigation and narrowed down the cause of the blaze.

The home was occupied at the time the fire broke out around 9 a.m., but smoke alarms alerted the home's residents, who were able to evacuate safely.

Due to the extent of the damage, the home was posted as being uninhabitable by the township's building department, Mercready said.

Toms River Police Ptl. Nate Williams along with fire companies from East Dover, Silverton and Island Heights responded, police spokesman Ralph Stocco said. The fire was placed under control at 9:21 a.m., he said.

Mercready urged residents to ensure items are at least three feet away from any heat-producing piece of equipment, such as a dryer.