On April 10, 2016, at approximately 3:25 p.m., a neighbor alerted Manchester Township Police Department dispatch of a structure fire on Falmouth Avenue in the Crestwood Village VII section of Manchester Township.

The caller who reported the fire also alerted the 75 year old female still inside the home, and she was able to exit safely prior to the arrival of police and fire personnel. Responding were fire companies from Whiting, Manchester, Ridgeway, Lakehurst, and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. While the fire was contained quickly thanks to the fast response of the responding fire companies, neighboring homes were evacuated as a safety precaution.

IMG_0287

The fire was confined to the garage area, though heavy smoke damage was sustained throughout the home. A vehicle housed within the garage was destroyed by the fire, and a cat perished inside of the residence.

The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature; however it remains under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office and Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau. The Manchester Township Building Inspector deemed the home to be uninhabitable.