EAST DOVER, NJ – While battling a structure fire on Bergen Avenue, firefighters rescued two cats from the blaze. The pets found on different floors were in good health. Their owner plans to seek veterinary care as a precaution.
The incident unfolded when East Dover Fire Company No. 4, Toms River Fire Company No. 2, and Island Heights Fire Department were called to a residence around 2:04 PM. The first responders encountered a two-story home engulfed in flames, with the fire concentrated on the second floor.
Efforts to contain the fire led to a second alarm, summoning additional support.
Firefighting teams deployed multiple hand lines to combat the fire, achieving quick containment. While the operation lasted about 1.5 hours, it ensured the safety of all human occupants, who had managed to evacuate. However, uncertainty loomed over the whereabouts of two cats, later found by search and rescue crews.
The residence suffered extensive damage, rendering it uninhabitable and has been marked unsafe by the Toms River Township Building Department. Amidst the property loss, there were no civilian casualties, though one firefighter sustained minor injuries from a fall and received medical attention.
The cause of the fire is under scrutiny by Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention’s Inspector Britton and the Toms River Police Department, aiming to prevent future incidents.