OCEAN CITY--Fire crews responded to the 400 block of Ocean Avenue in Ocean City for a 2-alarm blaze that broke out shortly after 10p.m. Wednesday.

A 2-story duplex caught fire and early reports indicate that several people had to be rescued from inside.

Fire crews were able to safely remove residents from danger, however several people have been displaced for the time being.

Crews extinguished blaze within minutes.

No word yet on any injuries.

The fire remains under investigation.

 NORTHFIELD--When the city of Northfield hired a new EMS service, the already existing Northfield Rescue Squad decided to serve the community in another capacity, by providing patient transports. In this NBC exclusive, we explain how someone tried to stop them with a malicious act of vandalism, but so far haven't succeeded.

"We could not get this opened at all." It was a problem encountered by members of the Northfield Rescue Squad as they tried to open their ambulance's back doors to pick up a patient, doors that were sealed shut after the lock was filled with super glue. "I just never imagined anyone would...would do something like this," said Rescue Squad member Lynn Perri, "it's an emergency vehicle, it's there to help people and I don't see a reason why anyone would ever want to do that."

"It takes a sick person to do something against somebody that's helping other people," said Frank Greis. The damage was discovered a week ago, when the squad arrived at his home to take his wife, who suffered a stroke several years ago, to a doctor's appointment and they couldn't open the doors.

"We're just so disheartened," said Perri, "it's something we do, we' serve the community. It was very embarrassing, thank goodness the people we were helping understood."

"These people are here at our beckon call," said Greis, "I would have a problem if I didn't have this type of help. These people are like family."

It's believed the vandalism took place sometime between the late-night hours of September 27 and the morning of the 29th. While it's unknown who or why someone did it, rescue squad officials say it likely only took a couple of minutes to jam them up for quite some time. "It totally shuts your operation down," said Chief Ray Adams of the Northfield Rescue Squad.

While a locksmith was able to rig up the ambulance so it's still operational, it will cost the squad about $800 to fix. Members are now left wondering if the vandalism is connected to a couple of harassing messages left on their answering machine before and after the crime. A message from the early morning just days before said, "I saw your rescue squad vehicle and I thought that AtlantiCare was in commission because you guys (expletive) my (expletive.)"

"I definitely think it's the same person," said Adams, "somebody out there doesn't want us to be in operation. Why? I my wildest dreams I have no idea why."

And while the squad will now take extra precautions to keep their vehicles and equipment safe, they say it will take a lot more than mean-spirited vandals to lock them out of helping the community.

Anyone with information about the vandalism or who may be behind it is asked to contact the Northfield Police Department by calling (609)641-2832.

By ROB SPAHR, Staff Writer, 609-272-7283 | Posted: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 | 0 comments

EGG HARBOR CITY - The state Pinelands Commission has granted the city the "emergency relief" it needed to prevent emergency responders from losing valuable time when responding to calls during an upcoming construction project.

The city plans to close a portion of Philadelphia Avenue north of Moss Mill Road in the upcoming weeks to complete a water and sewer project......Continue Reading

EGG HARBOR TWP.--- Seven tractors belonging to the Scullville Vol. Fire Co. had sand poured in their engines by vandals, just one day before the an annual haunted hay ride.

"...Its kind of heart wrenching to think that someone would do this to a fire department as well as a fund raiser," said Chief Mike Fiedor of the Scullville Vol. Co.

It's unknown when the saboteurs struck -- it could have been any one of the last few nights -- but their dastardly deeds were discovered early this morning at the Zion Rd. junkyard turned haunted wonderland.

"...We've had like eight or nine guys here working on them all day, we have them drained out, new oil put in them, we're running them, we're going to drain them out again, put new filters in them," said former chief Wally Shields.

Although the tractors are able to start and idle, theres no telling how much damage the abrasive sand did to the engines, or will continue to do over the next few days or weeks -- and these are the tractors used for the fire company's month long haunted hay ride, which kicks off its ninth year Friday night.

"...At this time right now we're not sure exactly who did it, it seems to us that whoever the person or persons were, targeted Scullville Volunteer Fire Company because there were two extra tractors out here which were not hit, seven of ours were hit," said Fiedor.

Despite the set back, Fiedor said that 'some how, some way, the show will go on', "....if anybody out there would like to help us with a couple of tractors, we could use them, mechanics, anybody who knows anything about mechanics, anything right now, we can get ourselves up and running because opening nights tomorrow night at seven o'clock."

Anyone with any information about the vandalism is asked to call EHT Police at: (609) 927-5200.

By MICHAEL MILLER, Staff Writer, 609-463-6712 | Posted: Friday, October 2, 2009 | 1 comment

OCEAN CITY - Jim Schatzle said two "Sopranos" wannabes beat him and set fire to his Boardwalk flag shop Tuesday.

But police said this tale of South Philadelphia mobsters extorting a Boardwalk merchant over pricy flags quickly unraveled. Police on Thursday charged Schatzle, 73, of Galloway Township, with aggravated arson and insurance fraud....Continue Reading