Whiting Station Fire Deemed Accidental

The fire that destroyed a Whiting Station home last week has been deemed accidental, according to the Ocean County Fire Marshal.

Much of the home, localted at 142 Morning Glory Lane, . Investigators "are not ruling out" that a discarded cigarette may have started the fire, said Assistant Fire Marshal Edward Hazelton.

Emergency responders from Whiting, Manchester, Lakehurst and Lacey responded to the home after a nearby fire watch tower and multiple residents called in the blaze, police said.

Residents Florance and Walter Tulp, both 83-years-old, were eating in the kitchen when the fire started, police said. They made it out of the home safely and were seated in folding chairs across the street — covered with blankets — as crews battled the fire.

The Tulps were making arrangements to stay with family, police said at the time.

Four homes surrounding the Tulp residence were evacuated as a precaution while crews battled the blaze. Neighboring homes received minor damage such as melted vinyl siding.