Fire Erupts in Toms River Home Due to Oil-Soaked Rags
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March 31, 2025Fire Erupts in Toms River Home Due to Oil-Soaked Rags
Fire Erupts in Toms River Home Due to Oil-Soaked Rags
According to Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, a residence in Toms River was rendered hazardous for habitation on Saturday due to a fire that began when a stack of rags drenched in oil caught fire.
According to Matthew Janora, Chief of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, the fire at a two-story house on Powder Horn Road was determined to be an accident. According to him, a neighbor reported seeing smoke emanating from the house at 5:17 a.m. on Saturday.
The house was vacant and undergoing repairs, and neither first responders nor civilians were hurt. Rags drenched in oil spontaneously burned in a garage waste pile, igniting the fire. According to Janora, the house's wood floors were replaced less than 48 hours prior to the incident.
According to Janora, Pleasant Plains Fire Department firefighters promptly put out the fire, looked for extension, and ventilated the house. According to him, crews stayed at the location for roughly two hours. Additionally, he said, units from East Dover Fire Company, and Silverton Volunteer Fire Company arrived.
Due to the damage and disconnection of the utilities, the building was posted as unsafe by the Toms River Township Building Department.
The circumstances surrounding the cause of fire have been ruled accidental in nature due to spontaneous combustion of oil soaked rags in a debris pile located inside of the garage. The wood floors inside of the home were redone less than 48 hours before the fire.
Oil-soaked rags can undergo spontaneous combustion due to the oxidation of oils, which generates heat over time. If the heat cannot dissipate, it can ignite the rags, leading to a fire. To safely dispose of oil-soaked rags, lay them flat in a well-ventilated area to dry completely before disposal, or store them in an approved sealed metal container to prevent combustion.
For further information or inquiries, please contact the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention at 732-240-5153.
