Police: Jackson garage fire believed to have started with explosion of diesel generator

A fire inside a garage on Bowman Road is believed to have started with a diesel generator and quickly engulfed the structure, police said.

Police Officers Theodore Kucowski and Steve Scaglione, as well as firefighters from Stations 55, 56 and 57 responded to a 911 call reporting fire had broken out in the garage at 879 Bowman Road around 8:07 a.m. Tuesday, to find the detached garage was completely engulfed in flames, according to Sgt. Christopher Parise.

Homeowners told officials the fire started when a family member went inside the garage to refuel a diesel generator that was being used to power the residence after electrical service to the property had recently been turned off, Parise said.

A Jackson township housing official ordered residents to vacate the home, Parise said.

Several explosions occurred at the scene, officials said. They later learned acetylene-filled tanks and a 60-gallon diesel fuel tank were stored in the garage, Parise said.

No injuries were being reported, but Quality First Aid was on the scene.

Township code enforcement and emergency management officials, as well as Ocean County Fire Marshal and the health department assisted in the investigation.