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Warren Grove Wildfire May 15th 2007. By John H. Rieth

On May 15th, 2007 one of the largest wildfires to occur In New Jersey in the past 12 years hit Southern Ocean County.
In all more then 6000 people were forced to evacuate, 5 homes were destroyed, and 13 structures were damaged. Several vehicles, boats, and out buildings like sheds were also destroyed or damaged. Only a few minor injuries were reported throughout the incident. The fire raged for over 48 hours, in which massive deployments of fire, EMS, Police, and OEM resources were needed. In all over 125 fire departments/companies from seven counties responded, with more then 250 pieces of fire apparatus. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded with more then 75 pieces of fire apparatus, 3 dozers, 10 tractor-plow units, 3 helicopters (two Hueys with Bambi Buckets & 1 Jet Ranger for observation), 1 fix wing observation, and 3 fix wing contractor operated single engine air tankers (SEATs).
The Air Force National Guard responded with 2 wildland engines, and water tender, the New Jersey National Guard responded with three Black Hawk helicopters two with Bambi Buckets. A large EMS response to assist in evacuations including three nursing Homes/Assisted living facilities. EMS agencies from across the state responded.
Other local, county, and state OEMs, County and State Fire Coordinators, and police agencies assisted, as well as the Red Cross Salvation Army, and numerous fire company ladies auxiliary.

At 14:14 hours on May 15th, 2007 the Warren Grove Gunnery Range of the NJ. Air Force National Guard advised the Cedar Bridge Forest Fire Lookout Towner (in Lacey Twsp.) that a fire had started on the range, and that Air Force National Guard fire fighters, where in route. The Range responded with their two off road wildland engines R2 & R3. Shortly there after the smoke could be seen from the Cedar Bridge Lookout. The local New Jersey Section Forest Fire Warden, Rich (Mac) Macmaster was notified. By 14:19 the Warren Grove Range contacted Cedar Bridge Lookout Tower, to request assistance.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded with several type 6X off road wildland engines, including B4, B27, and B19. The first Forest Fire Service engine on location reported a fast moving fire burning hard. Additional units from surrounding sections were dispatched to the fire, as well as the Warren Grove Volunteer Fire Company, for their water tender.

Aviation assets were requested by the Incident Commander, Section Forest Firewarden Macmaster. Shortly after arrival the IC requested Ocean County to activate their Wildfire Taskforces, for structure protection in the Warren Grove area. Additional Forest Fire Service units are dispatched, including water tenders, type 6x engines, several tractor plow units, Mobile Incident Command Post trailers, fleet maintenance/support units, as well as for helicopters with Bambi Buckets, as well as contractor Single Engine Air Tankers ( SEATs from Downstown Airocrop Corp.).

The Fast Moving wildfire jumped Rt 539 heading to the North East towards Rt 72. Several developments are on the South Side of Rt. 72 including the Brighton at Barnegat, and Pinewood Estates communities. Other larger developments including the massive Ocean Acres Development in Stafford Township are on the North side of Rt. 72. Ocean County Fire Coordinators activated all the Ocean County wildfire taskforces/strike teams, and reached out to other counties, through the Division of Fire Safety central region fire coordinators. Taskforce and strike teams of engines, and water tenders, from Monmouth, Burlington, Atlantic, Camden, and Gloucester County were dispatched.

The fire hit the Brighton at Barnegat and the Pinewood Estates communities hard, with a headfire with flames reported to be over 150 ft in height. The low humidity, strong south west winds and dry Pine Barrens’ fuel, helped the fire move rapidly; units were reporting erratic fire behavior, as well as long range spotting. Another wildfire unrelated to this fire was reported in Barnaget on West Bay Ave, an aggressive initial attack by other Forest Fire Service units contained that fire quickly.
Several spot fires landed across Rt 72, but quick action from Forest Fire Service and Local Fire units resulted in contentment of those spots, as the fire moved more to the East Evacuations were ordered for other development including Fawn Lakes and parts of the Ocean Acres developments. Three assisted living and or nursing homes along Rt. 72 were forced to evacuate.

As the day unfolded County and State Fire Coordinators request additional municipal fire departments/companies for structural protection with engine strike teams, water tender strike teams, pipelines ( LDH taskforces) were called in to set up additional fill sites for water tenders, and wildfire taskforce ( several engines, at lest one brush truck, and a water tender). In a two day period apparatus from Ocean, Burlington, Monmouth, Atlantic, Camden, and Gloucester Counties and reportedly several engines from Somerset County as well. On May 28, 2007, a final report from the Division of Fire Safety was not yet available; the author regrets that a complete lit of departments are not available at press time.

By night fall on the 15th, residents of several developments were still not allowed to return to their homes, and the fire continued to burn, control lines were establish, but the fire was not completely contained. Municipal and Forest Fire Service crews worked through out the night. A large leaf composting facility on Recovery Rd. in Stafford was ignited by the fire and produced another problem for firefighters. On May 16th, additional Forest Fire Service apparatus and equipment was called in, some relived units that work through out the night, additional municipal fire company apparatus were dispatch, to relive other units, to proved water tenders to work with the Forest Fire Service units, as well as to staging areas to provide a additional apparatus for contingency plans, if the fire were to threaten more homes. Latter in the day evacuations were in fact needed as well as structure protection in Stafford Township along Rt.72 near the Recovery Rd. area as well as a small community in the Stafford Forge area in Little Egg Harbor Township.
The weather for the 16th, proved to be problematic, winds increased, humidity decreased, and a front was expected in the afternoon, which would cause a change in wind direction.
As the morning of the 16th progressed, the humidity dropped, and the winds did increased, which made burn out, and backfire operations difficult. Areas of the fire that were not yet contained became active, and structure protection was once again need in some areas of the fire. By evening on the 16th, the front came through with a shift in wind from the South West to the North West; several areas of the fire made runs and caused erratic fire behavior. Smoke from the fire, as well as the fire moving very close to the Southern Ocean County Hospital, officials ordered the entire Hospital to be evacuated! EMS agencies from through out the State were mobilized in preparation to evacuate the hospital. As the evacuation was about to begin, the wind shifted to the North West, which no longer presented any problems to the Hospital, and the evacuation was cancelled. In the afternoon the Garden State Parkway had to be shut down again due to the fast approaching fire, division supervisors were concern that the fire could jump the Parkway. Late in the Afternoon on the 16th, a mechanical problem with a wildland engine from the Warren Grove Range caused the crew to abandon the apparatus and walk via an identified escape route to a safety zone. Due to the near by front and associated thunderstorms all aircraft working the incident were grounded. New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Pilot John Wimberg launched Delta 5; a Huey with a Bambi Bucket, to help insure the crew of the abandon truck could reach their safety zone. With out hesitation and with great personal risk, Chief Pilot Wimberg braved over 60 knot winds to ensure the safety of the crew, as well as the crew of several other units that were sent to pick up the stranded crew. The crew safely reached their safety zone with out any problems, and Delta 5 was relocated to the North East area of the fire. Soon after the approach of the front, thunderstorms arrived which dumped a half inch of rain over several hours. By morning of the 17th, more control lines were finished, and of course the rain brought down the fire activity. The fire was more then 70% contained by the 17th. The Forest Fire Service kept patrols on duty right up to May 28, 2007, when this article was written.

The Warren Grove Wildfire was one of the largest fire service responses with in New Jersey in over a decade. In all several hundred municipal fire fighters with over 250 pieces of apparatus responded, over 150 New Jersey Forest Fire Service fire fighters with 75 prices of apparatus, including type 6x engines, type 3 engines, a water tender, 1 large JD 750 Dozer, 2 medium JD450 dozers, 1 Wide Track dozer, 10 tractor plow units, and various support units, 3 helicopters, 1 fix wing, and 3 contactor fix wing SEAT aircraft. NJ Air Force National Guard Warren Grove Range Wildfire units, as well as units from Ft. Dix, Ft. Monmouth, Lakehurst Naval Air Station, Earle Naval Weapons Station, 177th NJ. Air Force National Guard FD from Atlantic City International Airport.
The New Jersey Army National Guard responded with three Black Hawks helicopters, two which were equipped with Bambi Buckets. Local EMS units with help from around the state assisted with incident transportation, evacuations, and other EMS related duties. Local, County, and State Law Enforcement agencies including the State Police responded. Local, County, and State OEM agencies responded. The State Dept. Of Transportation, traffic management units, as well as County and local road departments provided traffic diversions. At several times the Garden State Parkway had to be closed, as well as Rt. 72, Rt. 539, as well as other local and county roads. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Local Fire Companies Ladies Auxiliaries were providing food and water to emergency responders, as well as supporting evacuation center in Barnagat and Stafford Townships.
In all the fire burned through a small area Bass River Township Burlington County, Barnagat Township, Stafford Township, and Little Egg Harbor Township all Ocean County.
In all 5 homes were destroyed in Barnaget Township, 13 structures were damaged, and 6000 people were evacuated. All in the fire services acknowledge the loss of the homes and property of the people who lived in Brighton and Pinewood Estates, and all those who suffered the trauma of evacuation, (many of the evacuated where Senior Citizens who lived in age restricted communities). But due to the dedication, and hard work of all the Fire Companies/departments, Forest Fire Service, EMS,OEM,Law Enforcement, other local, county, and state agencies, and public utilities that responded, there was no lost of life, and only a few minor injuries were reported. Thankfully more homes were not destroyed or damaged. Many Forest Fire Service Units as well as local fire company units stood by to protect homes and property under extreme and dangerous fire conditions, other units were forced to retreat, and later returned after the massive Head Fires pass by to extinguish all remaining fires that surely would have caused even greater damage. With out the courage and bravery of all who responded more then 5 homes could have been destroyed. Countless homes were saved by state and local fire fighters.

According to the May17th Asbury Park Press the Air Force acknowledge that a flare dropped from an F16 fighter on May 15th at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range started the fire. An official investigation is still underway by a taskforce of Local, County, and State Law Enforcement and Fire Service agencies including the Air Force and New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Thanks to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New Jersey State Division of Fire Safety for their help. Thanks to Fire Observer Robert Morse for additional information.