A person died Wednesday night in a mobile home fire in the Pine Ridge section of Whiting, prompting a joint investigation by county and local authorities.
Whiting Fire Station 33 was dispatched at approximately 9:10 p.m. after a 911 caller reported visible flames and smoke coming from the residence.
Manchester Township Police were first to arrive and confirmed a working fire with a potential occupant still inside the structure.
Chief 3300 and Assistant Chief 3310 arrived shortly afterward, with 3300 taking over interior operations and 3310 assuming command.
According to responders, the home had “excessive interior storage with physical obstructions” that significantly hindered access and visibility for firefighting crews.
Engine 3301 responded with a full team and initiated an aggressive interior attack. Firefighters split into two entry points to speed up fire suppression and search efforts. A 1¾-inch handline was deployed to knock down the fire, while another team began a primary search under extreme heat and confined conditions.
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Despite their efforts, the suppression team located a victim inside the home who had died in the fire.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and Manchester Township Police Department.
All photos by Whiting Fire Company Sta. 33.