Manchester Fire Termed “Suspicious”

A fire that damaged a duplex in Manchester Township Wednesday afternoon is considered suspicious, according to authorities.

The blaze broke out shortly after 3 p.m. in one of the units on Lilac Lane in the Whiting section. Police said residents in the joining unit were evacuated as firefighters doused the flames.

No one was injured, but Quality Medical Transport responded to the scene and treated the homeowners from both units for precautionary reasons.

The Manchester Township Building Inspector deemed both units uninhabitable and the occupants were relocated with family and friends.

Fire Departments from Whiting, Manchester, Lakehurst Boro, the NJ State Forest Fire Service and the Joint Base all responded.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office CSI unit, the Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Manchester Township OEM Coordinator also assisted at the scene.

The cause of the fire and origin is being investigated by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and Manchester Detective Adam Emmons.