March 15, 3:15 PM
Around 3 PM the the New Jersey Forest Fire Service provided an update that may be found here:
WILDFIRE UPDATE - LAKEWOOD, NJ
As of 9 a.m. today, the Lakewood area wildfire remains at 170 acres. Cold temperatures overnight aided fire suppression efforts. The fire will continue to burn and smolder in interior areas east of the Garden State Parkway, south of Cedar Bridge Avenue and north of Route 70. Patrol activities will continue throughout today. All roadways have been reopened.
Two mixed-use professional/commercial structures and approximately eight outbuildings were destroyed by the fire. Additional property and improved property were damaged.
Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay away from impacted areas and emergency response activity. Drones of any kind interfere with the fire-fighting effort and are prohibited in the area. All evacuees have been permitted to return home.
The fire's origin has been identified and the cause is under investigation, though we can state it was not from a prescribed burn as reported inaccurately online.
A New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighter remains in critical condition at a nearby hospital. (obtained on March 15, 2021 at 3:20 PM from https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/793597087929576)
March 15, 1:15 PM
There are no new updates from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service about progress made this morning fighting the brush fire. Nor are there any updates about the hospitalized firefighter from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Media outlets (see list below) reporting that 29 residences were damaged. Recall that two commercial buildings were destroyed.
Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today wrote a nice report this morning covering the fire including an eighteen minute video from Jersey Shore Response showing the initial response to the fire with radio feed. You will want to read Bill's article and watch the video.
Some of the recent media coverage of the fire in Lakewood. Note, kudos to New Jersey Advance Media as it was their text alert (I subscribe to one of their papers) that first alerted me to this fire, they have done a nice job covering this fire.
- New Jersey Advance Media (March 15) "Firefighters saved my home"
- News 12 New Jersey (March 15) with video report, photo gallery, and other photos from twitter
- Asbury Park Press (3 free articles then paywall) with video and photo gallery
- ABC6 Philadelphia (March 14 updated on March 15)
- The Daily Voice (Ocean County, March 15) with video that I embedded below
March 15, 7:35 AM
I'd like to start with a timely reminder from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, just posted on their Facebook page telling drone operators not to fly over wildfires.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service would like to remind you, never fly your UAS or Drone near or around a wildfire, no matter how large or small.Your actions may have devastating effects to firefighting aircraft and personnel on the fire.
If you fly, WE can't!
I wrote yesterday about the 162+ acre brush fire burning in Lakewood and Brick NJ. I removed a link to some drone footage out of respect for the firefighters in the air because drones over wildfires can pose safety risks.
Late last night, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service provided an update (about 11:30 PM)
WILDFIRE UPDATE - LAKEWOOD, NJ - 11:30 P.M.
As of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the Lakewood area wildfire remains at 170 acres. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (FFS) will continue suppression, patrol and mop-up operations throughout the night and support from local fire companies will be scaled back throughout Sunday night as containment increases. The origin has been identified and the cause is under investigation, though we can state it was not from a prescribed burn as reported inaccurately online.
Two mixed-use professional/commercial structures were destroyed by the fire. While the wildfire came close to residential areas, no homes were substantially damaged though some ancillary structures such as sheds were impacted. Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay away from impacted areas and emergency response activity. Drones of any kind interfere with the fire-fighting effort and are prohibited in the area. Brick Township residents who were evacuated began returning home at 7:00 p.m. Sunday.
A New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighter is in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
Road closures and reopenings:
- Garden State Parkway is now reopened. The entrance to Garden State Parkway (north) at Shorrock Street will remain closed until morning re-evaluation.
- Route 528 has reopened
- Route 70 (one westbound lane from Cedar Bridge Ave to the Garden State Parkway will remain closed)
- All other ramps are reopened.
(obtained at 7:35 AM on March 14, 2021 from a New Jersey Forest Fire Service update on their Facebook page.)
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