El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer announced that an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Squad-Arson Unit, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Condado de Ocean, Oficina de detectives del Departamento de Policía del municipio de Lakewood, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, has determined that the wildland fire which occurred in Lakewood Township and advanced into Brick Township on Sunday, Marzo 14, 2021, was intentionally set.
“We have located the origin of the fire and have concluded that the fire was intentionally set,”, afirmó el fiscal Billhimer..
On Sunday, Marzo 14, 2021, aproximadamente a 1:15 pm., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Observation Tower in Lakewood reported a wildland fire in the area of Cedarbridge Avenue and Airport Road in Lakewood. As the fire quickly spread, firefighters battled through the night – in the face of 20 mile-per-hour winds – in an effort to contain the blaze. During the course of the fire, a firefighter from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service suffered cardiac arrest. He was transported to Hackensack Meridian Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township where he is reported to be in stable condition. Approximately 167 acres of land were destroyed by the fire, and it was finally deemed under control on Monday, Marzo 15, 2021, by approximately 1:00 pm.
“The significance of this wildland fire cannot be overstated. We have a firefighter that suffered cardiac arrest while battling this fire. Three homeless people living in the woods were saved from the advancing fire. Numerous residences and commercial properties were damaged and hundreds of people were evacuated. It is only by the grace of God that no one was killed,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with knowledge of information concerning this fire is urged to contact Sergeant Thomas Haskell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 3953,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
Prosecutor Billhimer expresses his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Unidad de Delitos de Alta Tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Condado de Ocean, Oficina de detectives del Departamento de Policía del municipio de Lakewood, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, for their thorough and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation. Prosecutor Billhimer also commends the following agencies for their bravery and collective support in fighting and controlling this horrific fire: Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Ocean; New Jersey Forest Fire Service; Policía Estatal de Nueva Jersey; New Jersey State Police Traffic Incident Management Team; Ocean County Fire Coordinators; Ocean County EMS Coordinators; Oficina del jefe de bomberos del condado de Monmouth; Departamento de policía del municipio de Lakewood; Departamento de policía del municipio de Brick; Departamento de policía del municipio de Toms River; Departamento de policía del municipio de Jackson; Departamento de policía del municipio de Howell; Chaverim of Lakewood; Hatzolah; Brick Township Bureau of Fire Safety; Brick Township EMS; Lakewood Township Fire Department; Lakewood Township EMS; Barnegat Township Fire Department; Beachwood Fire Department; Bayville Fire Department (Berkeley); Manitou Park Fire Department (Berkeley); Pinewald Pioneer Fire Department (Berkeley); Laurelton Fire Department (Ladrillo); Breton Woods Fire Department (Ladrillo); Pioneer Hose Fire Department (Ladrillo); Herbertsville Fire Department (Ladrillo); Toms River Fire Department Company No.1; Toms River Fire Department Company No. 2; Ocean Beach Fire Department (Río Toms); East Dover Fire Department (Río Toms); Silverton Fire Department (Río Toms); Pleasant Plains Fire Department (Río Toms); Manchester Township Fire Department; Whiting Fire Department (Manchester); Ridgeway Fire Department (Manchester); Mantoloking Fire Department; Waretown Fire Department; Ocean Gate Fire Department; Pine Beach Fire Department; Point Pleasant Borough Fire Department; Point Pleasant Beach Fire Department; Seaside Heights Fire Department; Seaside Park Fire Department; Island Heights Fire Department; Jackson Township Fire Department Company No.1; Jackson Mills Fire Department (jackson); Cassville Fire Department (jackson); Whitesville Fire Department (jackson); Forked River Fire Department (Lacey); Lanoka Harbor Fire Department (Lacey); Lakehurst Fire Department; Joint Base McGuire-Dix Fire Department; Lavallette Fire Department; Eatontown Fire Department; Wanamassa Fire Department (Ocean – Monmouth County); Oakhurst Fire Department (Ocean – Condado de Monmouth); West Long Branch Fire Department; Hamilton Fire Department (Neptune); Shark River Hills Fire Department (Neptune); Neptune City Fire Department; Colts Neck Fire Department; Southard Fire Department (Howell); and Goodwill Hose Fire Department (Belmar).