June 2, 2002 - The Day The Pinelands Burned
See the Ocean County blaze come alive again through interactive display at Jakes Branch County Park
The great Jakes Branch wildfire all began with an errant spark from a campfire that wasn't quite out back in June 2002. New Jersey was in the middle of a drought. The woods were like a tinderbox. It was shortly after 1 p.m. when a state forest fire worker on the Cedar Bridge fire tower spotted a plume of smoke off in the distance, in a remote area of Berkeley Township. By 1:14 p.m., a state Forest Fire Service warden had already tried unsuccessfully to put the flames out with his brush truck. By 1:25 p.m, the fire was racing east, moving at 127 feet per minute. State fire officials ordered the Garden State Parkway shut down in Beachwood and Berkeley. The fire jumped the parkway. Smoke could be seen in Manahawkin, Manchester, Toms River and…
Opinionated
11:08 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I remember going down the Parkway that Sunday night, being an emergency worker. I recall feeling the heat from the fire off of the trees and the eerie silence interrupted by an occasional crackle as I carefully drove along. It was really creepy. more ›