Family with infant and teen escapes late-night Toms River house fire sparked by cigarette
Toms River, NJ – A family of four, including a baby and a teenager, escaped a late-night blaze that tore through their Leawood Avenue home after a neighbor spotted flames and rushed to alert them.
The incident was captured on the family’s ring doorbell camera.
The fire broke out around 11:43 p.m. Saturday at 541 Leawood Avenue, where officials say improperly discarded smoking materials ignited cardboard boxes and a township trash container outside the home. The flames spread rapidly, climbing the garage door and porch before pushing into the attic and a second-floor bedroom.
Firefighters from Pleasant Plains, Silverton, East Dover, and Toms River Companies #1 and #2 converged on the scene, battling the blaze until it was brought under control. Crews from the Toms River Police Department, EMS, and utility companies also assisted.
All residents, including two adults, a 9-month-old baby, a 17-year-old high school senior, and the family dog, made it out safely thanks to the quick-thinking neighbor. No injuries were reported.
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The American Red Cross is currently providing temporary assistance, while the home has been declared uninhabitable by the township building department. The family, awaiting insurance support, has appealed to the community for help as they begin the recovery process.
Investigators from the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention ruled the blaze accidental.
Key Points
- A late-night house fire on Leawood Avenue in Toms River displaced a family of four and their dog.
- Officials say the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials that ignited combustible storage.
- No one was injured, but the home suffered major damage and was deemed unsafe for occupancy.