Photos of the scene captured by Ocean County Scanner News show flames on the third-floor porch of a home on Iverness Drive, located in the Fairways Complex on County Route 571.
The photo appeared to have spread through much of the building as of 2:30 p.m.
Police said only that the fire broke out at 1:30 p.m., and urged drivers to avoid the area.
All Toms River fire companies, along with fire companies from Forked River, Bayville, and Lakewood were on scene battling the blaze.
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