Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Lexington Blvd. Fire Accidental, Began in Hot Water Closet

Saturday afternoon blaze left three homes uninhabitable

The that damaged three housing units and sent two residents to the hospital over the weekend started accidentally when items stored close to a hot water heater ignited, an official said Tuesday.

An investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal Division determined that combustibles in a hot water closet under the stairs at 65 Lexington caught fire Saturday afternoon, starting the destructive fire, said Deputy Fire Marshal Brian Mount. 

The residence where the fire began was severely damage in the blaze, Mount said.

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"The whole unit suffered extreme heat, smoke and water damage as well as heavy fire damage to the first floor and the front of the second floor," he said.

The one-story unit to the right sustained some fire damage in the attic and water damage in a front bedroom, he said, while the one to the left had minor attic fire damage and minor water damage.

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All three have been declared unsafe structures by the building department, said township administrator David Breeden, but one other unit that received some minor damage was habitable, he said. The fire was the in the Settlers Landing neighborhood in a week.

Mount confirmed details of the successful rescue of one of the residents of 65 Lexington by a neighbor, whose name was not immediately available.

"He pulled up to the front door, but coudln't get in because of the sense of heat," Mount said. "He went to the rear and broke a window, and he heard someone on the second floor window." 

The 17-year-old girl then opened a window and climbed onto the roof of an adjacent shed, and the good Samaritan helped her down, said Mount.

 

If you were on the scene and would like to share details of the rescue, please call the editor at 732-331-7686.


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