Jeff Goldman
nj.com
(MCT)
Two months after alarge Ocean County wildfireburned 167 acres, damaged several buildings and seriously injured a firefighter, investigators are continuing their efforts to find whoever was responsible. Meanwhile, two other forest fires continue to burn farther south in New Jersey Tuesday morning.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office said in an email Tuesday about the March fire, which authorities say was set intentionally. The blaze ignited in Lakewood before jumping across the Garden State Parkway into Brick and being brought under control the following day.
The prosecutor’s office declined to comment further.
“They are continuing to investigate that fire,” said New Jersy Forest Fire Service chief Greg McLaughlin. “I got the sense (from investigators) that it was a slow process.”
While detectives work that case, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is battling two other fires — one inBass River State Forest and Little Egg Harbor Townshipand a second that broke out Monday inBrendan Byrne State Forest in Pemberton Township.
The first fire was 75% contained as of Monday night after scorching 617 acres.
Authorities have not commented on the Brick/Lakewood fire since saying on March 19 that it was started deliberately.
“Thesignificance of this wildland firecannot be overstated,” Bradley Billhimer, the county prosecutor, said in a statement. We have a firefighter that suffered cardiac arrest while battling this fire. Three homeless people living in the woods were saved from the advancing fire. Numerous residences and commercial properties were damaged and hundreds of people were evacuated. It is only by the grace of God that no one was killed.”
Two mixed-use commercial buildings and approximately eight out-buildings were destroyed before the fire was deemed under control around 1 p.m. the following day, according to fire officials.
A firefighter with the state forest fire service went into cardiac arrest while working at the scene and was rushed to a local hospital, authorities said. His condition was upgraded to stable after initially being hospitalized in critical condition.
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NJ Advance Media staff writer Noah Cohen contributed to this report.
Jeff Goldman may be reached atjeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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