Remembering Firefighters Who Died in 1977 Fighting a Fire in Bass River State Forest

At some point since after I started this blog on aerial wildland firefighting I became aware of the four volunteer firefighters from the Eagleswood Volunteer Company, station 52 who lost their lives fighting a 2,300 acre wildfire in Bass River State Forest on July 22, 1977. Southern NJ had experienced a bad drought that year coupled with an eight day heat wave from July15 to July 23rd.

I will always remember the four firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might be safe.

• Chief Harold “Skip” Cranmer, Jr., 32 years old; 
• Assistant Chief Marcus Cullen, 28 (FN, US Navy); 
• Firefighter John “Red” Baker, 52; 
• Firefighter Herbert “Herb” Blackwell, Jr., 23.