Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Brush fire in NJ Meadowlands

I intended to write about yesterday's wildfire activities, updating containment information as well as mentioning how NJFFS contract fixed-wings were used. Instead, I am posting about a brush fire in the NJ meadowlands not far from the Football stadium where the Giants and the Jets play and adjoining the NJ Turnpike in Bergen County. I think, but am not certain that this is outside the primary response area of the NJ Forest Fire Service. So the first responders will be local fire departments. I am going to go and watch my local news for updates and will follow-up later tonight with more information. I can say that having lived near the Meadowlands for many years, that brush fires are not uncommon. Links: NJ dot com photo gallery from ABC7 in NYC  

Update 5:45 PM on April 11, 2012 There is a nice report on the fire by The Record - North Jersey dot com with a map, some more pictures, and the video that I embedded below. They are reporting that about 60 acres have burned. The Record - North Jersey dot com talked to Tom Savia, battalion chief for the Carlstadt Fire Department:
Tom Savia, battalion chief for the Carlstadt Fire Department, said up to 60 acres of meadowlands were on fire and the wind was "killing us" in making the fire spread. Savia said firefighters could not attack the flames in the middle of the marshlands because of the dangerous conditions there and would have to let the flames proceed to the edge of the site. He said firefighters should have control of the situation Wednesday evening.


 updated on July 18, 2013: videos that I had embedded here are no longer available. :-(

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