Fire truck racing to the emergency scene. File photo — Fire truck racing to the emergency scene. File Photo

Toms River, NJ – On Wednesday at approximately 2:23 PM, the Pleasant Plains Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation at 1000 Axl Drive in Toms River. The initial report indicated a water flow from zone 161. Shortly after, additional callers reported heavy smoke in apartment 1-306. This led to an upgrade to a possible structure fire, resulting in additional units from Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, East Dover Fire Company, Toms River Fire Company No. 2, and Whitesville Fire Company being dispatched to the scene.

Arriving units found a small grease fire on the stove that had spread to the microwave housing, triggering the kitchen sprinkler system. The activated sprinkler had largely extinguished the fire, confining it to the area above the stove. Firefighters shut down the sprinkler system, cut power to the affected units, and ventilated the building. Crews completed their efforts within approximately two hours.

Water damage from the sprinkler system led to three units being declared unsafe by the Toms River Building Department. The American Red Cross and the Toms River Office of Emergency Management provided assistance to about 12 individuals displaced by

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