A cigarette or a faulty electrical outlet on a porch could be what sparked a blaze that destroyed an Asbury Park home about two blocks from the boardwalk, on Bergh Street Wednesday afternoon, according to fire officials.

Photo from the Asbury Park Fire Department's Facebook page
Photo from the Asbury Park Fire Department's Facebook page
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Asbury Park Fire Marshal Garrett Giberson ruled the blaze accidental, according to NJ.com. He said the homeowner was inside when flames broke out shortly after 3 p.m. in the three-story, Victorian-style home with a wrap-around porch, but the man was able to escape unharmed.

Firefighters were able to douse the bulk of the flames by about 3:30 p.m..

Authorities closed Bergh Avenue as crews battled the blaze. Firefighters from Asbury Park, Wanamassa, and Neptune responded to the scene. Giberson told NJ.com a team from the Monmouth County EMS Task Force responded to assist with rehabilitation due to the excessive heat.

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