Fires damages a vacant Toms River home near hospital
Police and fire crews responding to a smoke condition near Community Medical Center in Toms River Monday night discovered it was coming from a single family home at 26 Oliver Street, according to authorities.
Toms River Police spokesman Ralph Stocco said the home had been vacant for about a year and that the fire caused significant damage.
Nearby Health South Rehabilitation Center initially was ordered to evacuate as a precaution, but Stocco said it was changed to a shelter in place instead. Patients were moved to the opposite side of the building.
Crews brought the blaze under control around 9:45 p.m., in less than an hour, according to Stocco.
Investigators will be on the scene today to determine the cause of the fire.