MANCHESTER — A fast-moving fire tore through the garage of a Cedar Glen Lakes home Friday evening, displacing a family but leaving no injuries, authorities said.
Manchester Township police were called to 1 California Drive at approximately 5:54 p.m. February 20 after receiving a report of a structure fire. Responding officers found the garage side of the residence fully engulfed in flames, with a vehicle in the driveway also on fire.
Officers confirmed the home was unoccupied at the time of their arrival and that the three residents who live there were safe. As firefighters worked to battle the blaze, neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Fire crews from multiple municipalities quickly brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby houses or additional vehicles, officials said.
Departments assisting at the scene included the Whiting, Manchester, Ridgeway, Lakehurst, New Egypt, Forked River, Bayville, Pinewald Pioneer and Lacey volunteer fire departments, as well as the Joint Base Fire Department. Manchester EMS, the township’s Office of Emergency Management, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and the American Red Cross also responded.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. An investigation is being conducted by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Manchester Township Police Department’s Investigations Bureau.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced family with temporary housing and other immediate necessities as the investigation continues.
