Sunday Morning Fire on Dunedin Street Was Accidental, Discarded Smoking Materials Possible Cause

Two residents are safe, but their home suffered extensive damage as the result of a fire on the 700 block of Dunedin Street on Sunday morning, March 17, Toms River Police said.

According to police, homeowner Roseann Dominic was home at the time. She was alerted by smoke detectors in the home, and in turn, alerted her son. They were able to exit the house unharmed. The fire began by the rear deck of the home, which suffered heavy fire damage, police said.

Other portions of the home suffered heavy smoke, heat and water damage, Toms River Bureau Prevention of Fire Director Jim Mercready said. The house has been posted as an unsafe structure, and will either need to be demolished or have extensive repair work done before it can be reoccupied, Mercready said.

According to Mercready, the cause of the fire was accidental, and discarded smoking materials can't be ruled out as a cause.

East Dover Fire Department, Toms River Fire Companies 1 and 2, Silverton and Island Heights extinguished the blaze, police said. Police responded to the fire at 8:29 Sunday morning. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.