Township firefighters and police officers responded to a blaze in the Pleasant Plains section of Toms River Monday morning which sent one firefighter to the hospital.
A fire in the home at 293 Rivers Edge Lane was reported at about 10:30 a.m., Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said.
The fire resulted in fire damage to the garage, and the remainder of the home suffered light smoke damage, said James Mercready, Director of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention.
"The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental in origin, resulting from hot ashes being placed in a plastic 'robo' can adjacent to the exterior wall of the garage," said Mercready, in an e-mail.
The fire damaged the electrical service to the home and power to the dwelling was secured by Jersey Central Power and Light Company, Mercready said.
Fire damage was limited to the garage and attic space above the garage. The house was determined to be an unsafe structure until repairs are made to the electrical system.
Assistant Chief Ryan Parente of the Pleasant Plains Fire Company oversaw the firefighting effort. Silverton, Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2, and East Dover Fire Company provided mutual-aid.
One firefighter was transported to Community Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
Mercready said the bureau was urging residents to place ashes into an authorized metal container, soak them with water and seal them tightly before disposing them away from any combustible materials.
"Ashes can retain a significant amount of heat after a fire has stopped burning and can ignite combustible materials," he said.
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