UPDATE: Two Residents Flee Point Boro Fire Unharmed

No one was injured in a garage fire at 1519 Dock Place off Dorsett Dock Road in Point Borough Sunday night, according to Deputy Fire Chief Robert Woardell.

A woman and a man who live in the home attached to the garage were able to get out of the home uninjured, Woardell said. The woman was in a wheel chair, but only because she is typically in a wheel chair, not due to any circumstance brought about by the fire, Woardell said.

Woardell said he did not have the names of the two residents and did not immediately know if they were a married couple or where they may have gone to spend the night since the home is not yet habitable. However, he said the Point Boro First Aid Squad helped the two residents into an ambulance to stay warm as first responders continued to work the scene.

The two residents did not need to be transported to a hospital for medical attention, according to preliminary information from First Aid at the scene. Woardell said he could not immediately confirm that.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the garage, which was housing a car, was engulfed in flames, so it appeared the fire started in the garage, but that is still under investigation, Woardell said.
  
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal's office, Woardell said. County Fire Marshal Dan Mulligan was at the scene.

Borough Code Enforcement officials will inspect the property to determine when it will be habitable, Woardell said. The garage appeared heavily charred while the exterior of the home itself did not appear badly damaged from the outside view, but was no doubt heavily impacted by the fire in the attached garage and the tremendous amount of smoke billowing out.
 
Firefighters used a chain saw, at about 7:15 p.m., to cut a hole in the roof of the garage as they continued to battle heavy smoke pouring from the garage on Dock Place. Later Woardell said that cutting the hole was to help get rid of the smoke billowing out of the garage.

The Laurelton Fire Department from Brick Township was heavily assisting at the scene, including using an aerial ladder to lower fireighters onto the roof.

The Point Boro First Aid Squad, Herbertsville Fire Department from Brick and the Point Beach Fire Department were also assisting at the scene.

Police had been warning those walking over to the scene to stay away because there were live wires lying on the ground in front of the garage and across Dock Place, but those wires appeared to be cleared away later.

JCP&L had cut the power to the house. Code enforcement will have to determine when the power can be restored, Woardell said.

At about 8:20 p.m., Woardell said he expected the firefighters to clear the scene shortly and turn it over to the county fire marshal's officials.

Patch will continue to follow this story on Monday when more details become available.