TOMS RIVER-A fire that gutted a commercial strip mall and destroyed several businesses is being called “suspicious” by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
In a post on social media, Al DellaFave, spokesman for Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said the fire was suspicious.
The fire was reported shortly after midnight on Sunday. Firefighters from Toms River, Lakewood, Island Heights and Manchester responded to the fire.
Firefighters cleared the scene at 5:30 that morning.
Several popular businesses were lost in the blaze including Esposito’s Pizza, Wing Far Chinese Restaurant and Azteca Mexican Restaurant.
DellaFave said anyone who may have information on the event should call arson investigator Christopher Bonner at 732-929-2027 at ext. 2449.
Photos by Ocean County Sheriff’s Dept, Toms River Fire Company, Silverton Volunteer Fire Company.