By LEE PROCIDA Staff Writer | Posted: Thursday, March 25, 2010 | 0 comments

BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP — Someone intentionally lit Saturday’s 540-acre wildfire, according to authorities, who are now investigating whether that fire and another that destroyed a county park visitor center are related.

The fire set Saturday started south of the dirt section of Cloverdale Road, which branches through a densely wooded area north from Route 72. Officials said an open flame was applied to “a jackpot of fuel” — in this case, thick piles of dead foliage....Continue Reading

From Press staff reports | Posted: Thursday, March 25, 2010 | 0 comments

Firefighters in Atlantic County are battling an early-morning mulch fire.

The fire was reported after 5:30 a.m., near a house along Seaview Drive, near Route 152, Somers Point-Longport Boulevard in Longport.

The fire doesn't seem to be serious, and no injuries have been reported. There's no word on what caused the fire.

From Press staff reports | Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 | 0 comments

MILLVILLE — Firefighting crews were at the scene of a duplex fire Sunday evening in center city.

The Millville Fire Department was dispatched to the Sassafras Street duplex at 3:13 p.m. after a fire was reported. The fire was significant enough to warrant a second alarm and assistance from the Vineland Fire Department.

The Laurel Lake department was covering Millville's calls.

According to fire officials, no injuries had been reported as a result of the fire, which was contained but had not been listed as under control.

Very heavy damage to the duplex was reported, although only one half of the building serves as a residence. Damage to adjacent structures is unknown. It is also unknown if anyone was home when the fire started.

From Press staff reports | Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 | 0 comments

The fuel tank caused the combustion in Friday's fatal boat explosion in Egg Harbor Township, State Police said, but what sparked the blaze was still unclear Saturday night.

Gary Theno, 51, owner of the Hidden Mill Marine Center on Thompsons Lane, was killed when his 30-foot cabin boat exploded and sank in the Great Egg Harbor River early Friday afternoon. His body was recovered three hours later.

The state police Marine Services Bureau had a bomb squad investigate the explosion Saturday, Sgt. Stephen Jones said, but the initial cause was still undetermined.

Jones said earlier that Theno may have been on the boat or on a nearby dock when the explosion happened.

The Atlantic County Medical Examiner was scheduled to perform an autopsy Sunday, Jones said.

     NBC40 Video

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL, Staff Writer | Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 | 2 comments

A forest fire in western Barnegat Township has burned 480 acres since the blaze began, state fire warden Bert Plante said Sunday.

Plante, division fire warden of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said fire crews expect another 60 acres near the east side of the fire to burn before the blaze is extinguished.

"A fire of this size, we don't put it out, we control it," Plante said. "Once we're satisfied with the amount of black, we let the middle burn."...Continue Reading

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By MICHELLE LEE Staff Writer | Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 | 0 comments

BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP — About 200 firefighters were called Saturday to battle a fire that burned more than 250 acres of forest in western Barnegat Township. Huge clouds of smoke could be seen over the treetops well into the night, and the firefighters will continue to fight the blaze today.

The fire was reported....Continue Reading