TOMS RIVER – A three alarm fire that broke out at a community church is under investigation, officials said.
The Silverton Fire Company was dispatched to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Hooper Avenue regarding a fire alarm, which was immediately upgraded to a structural fire. Firefighters were able to locate the blaze in an auditorium building behind the church.
According to the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, all children and staff were safely evacuated from all of the buildings.
The fire was upgraded to a 3rd alarm, with fire apparatus from Silverton, Pleasant Plains, East Dover, Toms River No. 1 and No. 2, Island Heights and Ocean Beach fire companies responding.
Firefights found the source of the fire in the area of the stage and quickly got it under control, extinguishing the flames. Officials reported no injuries.
At this time, the fire is under investigation by the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention Inspector Kevin Britton and the Toms River Police Department Detective Ryan Parente.
