A half hour before the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co.’s annual installation and awards dinner, held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, the local fire department was dispatched for a fully engulfed vehicle fire on the beach at 112th Street in Long Beach Township.
“We had some guys who were dressed in suits, and the one active girl (firefighter) was in her dress. Some guys weren’t even dressed and ready for dinner yet,” said Matthew Letts, Beach Haven fire chief.
A total of 23 members responded to the call, and the fire was extinguished with foam.
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| Photo via BHVFC The Island-based fire company responds to a vehicle fire on the beach in Long Beach Twp. |
“The whole Jeep was on fire, front to back, but it was quick to put out,” said Letts.
The Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Co., which was scheduled to cover any calls for the Beach Haven department during its annual dinner, stopped by the scene to assist Bill Gee, Ocean County fire marshal, in the investigation. The cause of the incident was ruled an accidental engine compartment fire.
“The investigation is complete. There was nothing suspicious with it,” said Gee.
The Beach Haven fire department responded to 316 calls during the 2013 calendar year, making it the second highest year in calls after 2012, when the department responded to 400 calls.
“Last year, the beginning of the year was busy for us because we were still coming out of the storm (Sandy). We had a pretty crazy start to the year,” said Letts.
On average, the fire company usually responds to about 250 to 280 calls annually, he said. The bulk of the calls in 2013 consisted of 101 fire alarms, 46 gas leaks and 38 arcing wires.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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