Unattended Menorah Causes Fire In Toms River Home: Inspector

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A burning menorah that was left unattended caused a fire Sunday that left a house on Fiddlers Run uninhabitable, the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention said Wednesday.

The fire was reported at 9:42 p.m. Sunday, said Kevin Esposito, chief inspector in the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. The homeowner had tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher but the extinguisher would not discharge, Esposito said.

Pleasant Plains Fire Chief Dan Roman saw a small fire in the first-floor window, but as he grabbed an extinguisher to go into the home, a fireball exploded, breaking the windows on both floors.

With the fire extended to the second floor, he called for additional help and crews from Silverton Fire Company and Toms River Fire Company 2 responded to help Pleasant Plains battle the fire, Esposito said. The crews stretched handlines to the first and second floors and were able to quickly extinguish the fire before any further damage occurred, he said.

There were no injuries but the Red Cross of New Jersey said it helped the family of six find temporary shelter, along with clothing and food.

Esposito said Inspector Charles Bauer of the Bureau of Fire Prevention determined the cause of the fire was an unattended Hanukkah menorah on the first floor of the home, and deemed the structure unsafe.

"Candles, menorahs, incense and oil burners are one of the most common causes of fire within homes during the holiday season," Esposito said. "It is really important that you never leave a candle or menorah unattended and keep them away from curtains and anything else that can easily catch fire.”

Esposito made other safety recommendations

• Place your menorah on a sturdy, non-flammable surface: Your menorah, especially when lit, should rest on a stable fixture in your home.
• Keep the menorah and matches out of children’s reach: Make sure that your menorah is positioned in a place where your children can enjoy it but is out of their reach, so they don’t hurt themselves. Be sure to store all matches and lighters safely after each candle lighting; kids may find them if left out.
• Place menorah out of reach of pets: Keep your menorah at a height where they can’t get their paws on it.
• Do not walk around with lit candles: Choose the area of your home where your menorah will be lit, then keep it there. Do not carry your menorah from room to room to avoid potentially dropping it.
• Place your menorah in a secluded area of your home: It is important to keep the menorah out of your home’s general flow of traffic to avoid accidentally knocking it over.

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