TOMS RIVER — A Jersey Shore family safely escaped a house fire on Friday afternoon.

The fire started about 3 p.m. in the lower level of the home on Kathleen Court, just off Route 9, and quickly spread to the upper level, police said.

Fire and police arrived within five minutes and everyone got out of house safely as the fire began to get out of control, police said. The fire closed Route 9 northbound through the area for much of the afternoon commute.

The New Jersey chapter of the American Red Cross assisted the family of 7 find temporary shelter.

Units from Pleasant Plains, Toms River #1 & #2, Silverton, East Dover, Island Heights, Lakewood, and Manitou Park all helped put the blaze out.

No cause of the fire has yet been determined.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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