BERKELEY – Authorities believe a house fire that spread to vehicles parked in the driveway was accidental in nature.
Berkeley Township Police said they were called to the scene on December 8 at around 9:30 p.m. on Southamton Road in the Silver Ridge section of town.
Patrolman Richard Zieser was the first to arrive. He observed that the house and several vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. Patrolman Zieser and Patrolman Tasso immediately made sure that all occupants of the residence as well as surrounding residences were evacuated to safety.
The homeowners had to be taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for smoke inhalation but they didn’t have any other injuries.
The Manitou Park Fire Department, Bayville Fire Department, Pinewald Pioneer Fire Department and the Toms River Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze.
Berkeley Township EMS and South Toms River EMS assisted on scene and transported the homeowners to the hospital.
The Fire was investigated by Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office as well as Berkeley Township Detectives. Authorities said the fire started in the garage.
