9:08AM EST: Section; Route 539 at the Warren Grove Gunnery Range; The NJ State Command is reporting that the fire has consumed more than 18,000 acres of land, almost 20 square miles; with 13,500 acres burning out of control. The command is also reporting that they have a 10% containment. The EMS command is requesting hospitals in a 4 county area to report the number of critical & non-critical care beds they have available in the event they need to evacuate additional nursing homes. (Courtesy of BNN)
Drivers on the Garden State Parkway heading southbound may see smoke and fire on the sides of the road near exit 63 – be advised it is from a backfire, set on purpose, to reduce the danger of the fire doubling back.
11:00AM EST: About 30 percent of the forest fire burning in Ocean and Burlington counties is now contained.
12:15PM EST: The Garden State Parkway has been closed between mile-markers 63 and 58 due to heavy smoke. The fire is also “ready to jump” Route 72. Numerous spot fires are being reported on the hospital property. (Courtesy of BNN STAFF)
2:26PM EST: Fire Command reports: No additional progress has been made. Units are making preparations to work through the night.
2:46PM EST: EMS task forces are en-route from Union, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Momouth counties – and many others as well. The fire has “jumped” over the Garden State Parkway. Southern Ocean County Hospital starting to evacuate the entire hospital.
3:00PM EST: The wind is now gusting over 30 mph, picking up embers and igniting the tops of trees, in area that firefighters have back-burned.
6:23PM EST: Garden State Parkway @ Route 72; fire is threatening to move closer to the parkway; strike teams being called there forthwith.
6:33PM EST: The GSP was just shut down in both directions from MM 72 to MM 58.
7:20PM EST: Heavy rains are bringing a glimmer of hope……plumes of white smoke clouds are visible above the fire zones. Fire command hinting that this ‘possibly’ may help contain the fire.
11:00PM EST: The fire is approximately 70% contained due to heavy rains.
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5 Responses
I assume a backfire means that they set it to burn whatever it is that could burn later, so if the fire does double back it would have nothing to burn, and would have to stop there?
Fire started when an F-16 fighter jet dropped a flare on the Warren Grove Gunnery Range.
HaKatan:
A back fire is when they have a controlled fire that burns up a path so that when the “big fire” comes there is nothing for it to burn and it dies out.
MOMISH A PACHAD!!! LAKEWOOD IS A COUPLE OF MILES AWAY!!!!!!!!
This rain is classic “refuah lifnay hamakah.” It is especially beutiful when divine intervention is so clearly blatant. But what message was Hashem sending us with this fire?