Berkeley Township, NJ – Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer has confirmed that a structure fire on Berkeley Avenue, which occurred on February 7, 2024, at around 8:20 p.m., was accidental. The Berkeley Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene following reports of a fire with possible entrapment.
Upon their arrival, emergency responders observed heavy fire emanating from the front of the home. All three occupants had evacuated the premises. Two individuals were taken to RWJ Barnabas Community Medical Center in Toms River, receiving treatment for minor injuries before being released. The third occupant suffered more severe injuries and was airlifted to Jefferson Health Burn Center in Philadelphia, where he is currently in critical but stable condition.
The fire was successfully extinguished by fire department personnel, and the site was secured until the following morning for further investigation.
A comprehensive examination conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, together with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, determined the origin of the fire to be the southwest corner of the living room. The cause of the fire has been attributed to improperly discarded smoking material, marking the incident as accidental.