This past week the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service preformed some controlled burning in our Twp.

Prescribed or controlled burning (back burning) is necessary to prevent a build up of dangerous fuel loads in the forest. It is also a technique used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters. Controlled burning stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest. Some seeds, such as sequoia, remain dormant until fire breaks down the seed coating.

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Thursday, March 13, 2008

By ROB SPAHR Staff Writer, 609-978-2012

White smoke clouds rose high above several portions of the state's pinelands Wednesday as knee- to waist-high flames crawled across the forest's floor, charring everything in their path. Those responsible for setting the fires stood amid the smoke and flames holding drip torches and wearing bright-yellow jackets with "New Jersey Forest Fire Service" written across the front.

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From the Atlantic City Press Published: Monday, March 10, 2008

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - The interior of a home at Railroad Boulevard and Dehirsch Avenue was damaged by fire Sunday evening, police said. The cause is being investigated.
Firefighters arrived at 5:48 p.m. and found that the burning building was unoccupied. Officials would not say when the fire was extinguished.

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Monday, March 10, 2008

By MICHELLE LEE Staff Writer, 609-272-7256

Volunteer fire companies are the backbone of fire protection in southern New Jersey, where there are few paid full-time firefighters. When volunteer firefighters grow older, many departments find they still play an important role in the firehouse, serving as mentors and even filling in as first responders when younger firefighters are scarce.

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WINNIE ------A copy of a photo , from 1976 , when Winnie Adams was an active firefighter. . Winnie Adams, who recently stepped down as president (not chief) of Longport's volunteer fire company after 30-plus years. She's part of a multi-generation family with the fire co, and is still an active firefighter even if she's not president anymore. Thursday January 30 , 2008



From the Atlantic City Press Published: Wednesday, March 05, 2008

By MARTIN DeANGELIS Staff Writer, 609-272-7237

Winnie Adams is probably getting used to not being president of the Longport Fire Department. But it could take her a while, because she held that title for more than 30 years before she finally stepped down a few weeks ago.

So Adams had plenty of time to get used to being president of the all-volunteer department, but she was an unusual choice when her colleagues elected her back in 1976. She still remembers the newspaper story that called her the first woman president of a fire department in New Jersey history.

Still, Adams wants to make it clear that she wasn't Longport's big fire boss for that long run as president - an office, by the way, that doesn't actually come with an office in the borough's compact, crowded firehouse.

"The chief runs it," she explained shortly after she stepped down, and the town officially honored her with a Winnie Adams day. "I did all the administration."

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008

PLEASANTVILLE - One resident was seriously burned and a fire captain suffered minor burns when a two-alarm fire destroyed a residence on Princeton Avenue, the Fire Department said Wednesday.

The residents came home at 1:51 a.m. Tuesday to the garage that had been converted into an apartment to find it on fire, the Fire Department said. For unknown reasons, Edward Barts ran inside and suffered burns. He was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, and transferred from there to the burn unit of Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Firefighters from Absecon, Northfield and Farmington also arrived to battle the flames, which were declared under control at 2:15 a.m., fire officials said. The building was considered a total loss. The two other family members were taken in by relatives.

Capt. Stephen Wilkins suffered minor burns to his ears and neck, and was treated at the scene, the Fire Department said. He later went to the hospital emergency room for further evaluation.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental, but remains under investigation, the Fire Department said.