Small Fire Evacuates Senior Living Facility

The smell of smoke and a fire alarm activated a complete evacuation of Brandywine Senior Living on Old Freehold Road Monday morning, in what fire officials said was a fire in a roof top air conditioner.

No injuries were reported and the evacuation ended after 45 minutes, according to a report by Pleasant Plains Fire Chief Brian Doyle.

Residents and staff evacuated at 8:18 a.m. Monday as crews from Pleasant Plains Fire Department, Station 30 and Silverton Fire Co, Station 29 responded to a fire alarm.   

"Residents and staff were alerted by the fire alarm and the staff smelled the odor of burning in the North West wing and began to evacuate," Doyle said. "Upon the arrival of Assistant Chief Gus Baxes, the building was evacuated and the staff has the area of the smell isolated."

Fire crews searched for the cause of the smoke, eventually discovering a small electrical fire in a rooftop air conditioning unit, Doyle said. Firefighers extinguished the fire, which was contained to the unit. They then worked to remove the smoke and odor from the building.

After that, the building was cleared for re-entry.

"The evacuation lasted 45 minutes and the staff did an incredible job of getting everyone out safely and quickly. Residents were able to return to their wings and rooms with no injuries," Doyle said.

The fire is under investigation by the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, Inspector Kevin Britton.