TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A fire sparked by improperly discarded smoking materials forced an emergency response at a Toms River assisted living facility on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Pleasant Plains Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a fire alarm at a facility on Whitesville Road. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that staff had already extinguished a small fire inside a wastebasket in one of the apartments.
Key Points:
- Fire was caused by discarded smoking materials in a wastebasket
- Apartment smoke detector failed to activate; hallway alarm triggered evacuation
- Resident had previously been warned about indoor smoking violations
Fire Prevention Investigators Britton and Oeskovic determined the fire began when smoking materials ignited paper towels and scrap paper. Although the apartment’s smoke detector did not activate, the hallway detector triggered the facility’s alarm system, prompting a response.
Staff evacuated adjacent residents beyond fire doors and sheltered others in place. The resident of the affected apartment, who had been asleep, was safely wheeled to the wellness center.
Investigators noted signs of previous fire incidents in the room, including burn marks on the bedding and carpeting, and ashes on nearby surfaces. The resident had reportedly received multiple warnings for violating the facility’s no-smoking policy.
“This is the second smoking fire this week,” the bureau stated, urging compliance with fire safety regulations to prevent future incidents.
