Toms River Assisted Living Facility Briefly Evacuated Due To Smoke

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A malfunctioning HVAC unit triggered a fire alarm at an assisted living facility Tuesday evening, leading to a brief evacuation, officials said.

Smoke from an HVAC unit set off an automated fire alarm about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Alcoeur Gardens on Route 166, said Matthew Janora, chief inspector with the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention.

Responding firefighters found smoke on the second floor in an office area, and after residents were evacuated, they found the malfunctioning equipment.

Electricity and gas service were turned off to the unit and crews ventilated the building, Janora said.

The residents were allowed back into the building about 30 minutes after the incident started, Janora said. There were no injuries.