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March 23, 2022
The Parish Center of Toms River Church Has Been Damaged by a Three-Alarm Fire
The parish center at Holy Cross Lutheran Church was destroyed by a three-alarm fire on Tuesday, but no one was injured, according to fire and church officials.
According to John Novak, chief fire inspector for the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company responded to a fire alarm about 1 p.m. Tuesday, which was promptly upgraded to a structure fire when firefighters arrived.
The fire started in the parish center, which was empty at the time, according to Holy Cross Lutheran Church officials.
Children and staff were evacuated from the other buildings, according to Novak, as firefighters battled the fire in the stage area of the 9,000-square-foot structure.
According to Novak, the firemen "launched a swift interior attack on the fire with multiple hose lines," and the fire was under control within 30 minutes of the alert.
Silverton, Pleasant Plains, East Dover, Toms River Companies No. 1 and No. 2, Island Heights, and Ocean Beach firefighters responded, according to Novak.
"By now, you may have heard of an event here at Holy Cross today," Holy Cross officials wrote on the church's Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. "I just wanted to let everyone know that everyone is safe and sound, especially our Pre-School students and staff who have been troopers!"
"With the exception of some of our nerves," the message read, "our appreciation to the first responders who are mopping up now have everything under control."
Church officials are assessing the damage and have asked that members of the congregation refrain from stopping by to check in.
"As we get more information, we'll attempt to keep everyone updated," church authorities stated.
Inspector Kevin Britton of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention and Detective Ryan Parente of the Toms River Police Department are investigating the fire.
