A home fire in Manchester has been deemed accidental, police said.

On Wednesday, at approximately 5:15 pm, officers from the Manchester Township Police Department were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Conestoga Drive in the Whitingsection of the Township.

Upon arrival, officers observed smoke coming from the rear of the residence. Fortunately, the occupants of the residence had already safely evacuated.

“Due to the joint efforts of the Manchester Township Communications Division and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division, several fire companies from partner jurisdictions were dispatched to the scene and started to extinguish the fire,” police said. The fire was effectively put out, and there were no injuries reported at the time of the incident.

The residence was deemed uninhabitable by the Building Department official, and the American Red Cross responded to assist those in need. The Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office arrived at the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation, which determined the fire to be accidental.

The Manchester Township Police Department extends gratitude to the Manchester Township EMS and the following fire departments for their response and assistance: Manchester Volunteer Fire Company, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, Joint Base MDL Fire Department, Lakehurst Fire Department, Forked River Fire Company, New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company, and the Pinewald Pioneer Fire Company. We would also like to thank the Manchester Township Fire Department for providing coverage for Manchester Township during this incident.