Berkeley township police department vehicle - file photo
Berkeley Township Police Department vehicle - file photo

Seven juveniles injured in Berkeley Township firepit explosion

Posted by
1 min read
January 1, 2026

Berkeley Township, NJ – Seven juveniles suffered burns after a flash fire erupted in a backyard firepit late Tuesday night, prompting a multi-agency investigation, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

Authorities said the incident occurred around 10 p.m. on December 31 on North Trenton Avenue, where Berkeley Township police, fire, and emergency crews responded to reports of a fire with multiple burn victims. Emergency personnel found that all seven victims had been injured in what officials described as a sudden outdoor firepit flare-up.

Two of the juveniles were taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment and later released. A third was transported by her parents to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she was also treated and released. The remaining four juveniles declined medical treatment after being evaluated at the scene.

Initial reports indicate that gasoline poured on the fire could have been the cause of the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit–Arson Squad, the Berkeley Township Police Detective Bureau, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version