TOMS RIVER – A car fire spread to several other vehicles and three nearby houses, fire officials reported.
The fire was first spotted by a resident just after midnight on February 4. The car was in a driveway between 38 and 32 Fielder Avenue in Ortley Beach. The fire quickly reached the homes at those two addresses.
By 2 a.m., the fire was deemed under control by Chief Calvo from Ocean Beach Fire Company, who was the incident commander.
The fire severely damaged the house at 38 Fielder and two cars in the driveway. The homeowner was able to escape.
The house at 32 Fielder had fire damage to the outside wall and smoke damage inside.
The house at 44 Fielder suffered damage to the exterior wall and attic space along with severe damage to a car that was parked in the driveway.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Fire Inspectors Ryan LaVigne and Richard Foster from the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and Toms River Police Department Patrolman Scott Fallano. The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious.
The volunteer fire companies that responded were: Ocean Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Lavallette, Toms River No. 1 and 2, East Dover, Island Heights, Pleasant Plains, and Silverton. Breton Woods and Manitou Park fire companies provided coverage for those departments. John Novak, Chief Fire Inspector, and the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention also responded.
