Police Lights (Photo: Jason Rojas/Flickr)
The residents of a home on Orchid Court in Toms River were able to escape a fire without injury, however their pets did not survive, officials said.
The structure fire was reported at 10:20 a.m. after a resident called 911, police spokeswoman Jillian Messina said. When police arrived on the scene the home was “fully involved” in the blaze.
Police evacuated nearby residences as a precaution. There were no injuries to any residents during the incident, however two family dogs and a cat perished in the fire. Toms River Animal Control was able to rescue a cat from the scene in an adjoining home.
Toms River fire companies quickly brought the fire under control and were able to save the adjoining homes in the complex, Messina said. The American Red Cross responded to the scene and provided support for a displaced family. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but not deemed suspicious at this time. It is under investigation by Toms River Fire Inspector Charles Bauer.
