Downtown Toms River Building Smolders, Firefighters Stay On Scene

Firefighters in Toms River continue to keep close watch on a downtown commercial building that broke out in a smoky, smoldering fire late this morning.

The edifice at 290 Water Street, housing a small cafe and several other concerns, is adjacent to the township's main post office. Traffic was barricaded from the area for several hours.

Police said the first report arrived at 10:51 AM. First-responders found heavy smoke enshrouding the attic space, where it is believed that the blaze began.

Firefighters from nearby Toms River Companies 1 and 2 responded along with support from East Dover, Pleasant Plains, Silverton and Beachwood squads.

Toms River PD Detective Thomas DiMichele, township Fire Prevention inspectors and investigator Tom Haskell of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office are sifting through the rubble to trace the cause and source point.