TOMS RIVER: The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention has issued the following statement regarding the early morning fire on Whitty Road:
At approximately 4:50 am this morning, the Pleasant Plains Fire Department and Silverton Fire Company were dispatched to a structure fire on Whitty Road. The first arriving units confirmed an active fire in a large single-family home. The fire would eventually be upgraded to 3 alarms bringing in multiple outside agencies.

The occupants and multiple pet cats, dogs and birds were inside the home at the time of the fire. The occupants escaped the blaze and multiple animals were rescued. Unfortunately, an unknown number of animals perished in the fire.

The fire caused a partial collapse of the roof structure on the home. Fire fighters from all Toms River stations and multiple mutual aid companies operated for approximately five hours. Two firefighters were injured during the fire and have been treated for their injuries and released.

This fire is being investigated by the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Toms River Township Police Department.