Tent fire. Ocean Grove, near the Great Auditorium. Photo by Prosper Bellizia, Blogfinger staff. © 7:44 am, January 21, 2015
Interior view by Tom Costantino, Blogfinger staff. Ocean Grove. © January 21, 2015.
7:38 am. By Prosper Bellizia. Note the Tabernacle to the left.
Two Blogfinger citizen reporters were at the scene of a tent fire this morning which was reported at 2:50 am by a nearby resident. The Ocean Grove Fire Department and neighboring fire departments quickly contained the fire. The fire destroyed a tent near the Great Auditorium, over towards the Tabernacle, on the Front Circle. Two other nearby tents were also damaged. Three firemen sought medical attention for minor injuries. One had slipped on the ice. No details are currently available about the others.
A Fire Department officer said that a squatter staying in the tent may have been responsible, but no one has been apprehended. Gas company personnel were present at the scene. The electric was reportedly turned off for the winter at the tent community. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Mr. Gradone of the OGCMA thanked the resident who first reported the fire.
Please let us know if you have any more information about this worrisome event. (Blogfinger@verizon.net).
Reporting by Prosper Bellizia and Tom Costantino, both of Ocean Grove. Other information from JP Gradone of the OGCMA.
OG tent in its winter garb. The canvas part is put away. The wooden structure is permanent. Dec. 2014. Paul Goldfinger photo ©
Since there was no active electricity to the tent structure, and the structure is (supposed to be) empty, and there was no lightning, then the only possible explanation is that a human started the fire. That is called arson. Arson can be intentional or simply reckless. Either way, it is a criminal offense and those who commit arson deserve no sympathy and should be prosecuted.
Given the typically devastating impact of fires in OG, we can have no tolerance for anyone putting the town at risk. We should have cameras all around the tent/Great Auditorium/temple square area. Further, the town should require all structures near the Great Auditorium to have smoke detectors with alarms that are audible outside.
Since this happened in the winter, when the tents are not occupied, it is fortunate that it was reported by someone before the whole tent colony burned up.
Gossip: Speculation is allowed on Blogfinger. You can find people opining on all sorts of subjects during news reports in reputable newspapers, radio, TV, etc.
Those firemen were speculating in a public place, and we are reporting that fact. Blogarians offer speculative comments all the time on Blogfinger, and often those opinions are not based on facts. Nevertheless, we value their opinions, and we will post them.
And next time you want to be sarcastic and critical about what we do, why not show how much you value facts, and tell us your real name. —-Paul
Wow, someone in the coffee shop said squatters, and some talk about the homeless or a trespasser, and blah blah blah. Did the Monmouth county Fire Marshall confirm this? The truth can be obtained from an OPRA request after the investigation is complete. Why comment on the unknown, get the correct facts first.
Within the past few years, I’ve heard of at least two of the Camp Meeting cottages being broken into during the winter and used by squatters. Clearly, more surveillance is needed to protect these buildings during the off-season. If nothing else, watch for footprints after a snowfall and periodically check doors and windows.
JP: Our reporter was in an OG coffee shop a few hours after the fire was extinguished. Two members of the OG Fire Dept. came in separately and, in separate discussions, expressed the opinion that this fire might have been the result of squatters or perhaps kids breaking in.
No one said anything about evidence. It was speculation.
One said that it is not uncommon for squatters to occupy empty buildings, such as construction sites in Ocean Grove. —Paul
Not sure what “Fire Department Official” you talked to, but the Fire Marshall informed us that there was no sign of a suspicious nature, such as arson or squatters.
From what I understand, most homeless people in NJ are homeless by choice, there are shelters, but they must abide by the rules of the shelter (no drugs, drinking…) so they chose to not go there.
Let’s put this in perspective. A tent or two was lost, they are simple structures and easy to rebuild. Prayers and donations are needed for the 1,000 NJ residents left homeless last night due to an enormous fire in Edgewater.
http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2015/01/more_than_1000_homeless_after_horrific_edgewater_f.html#incart_river
I fully agree with Paul. The GA needs security cameras at a minimum. Given we are paying very high taxes, the township of Neptune has an obligation to patrol our town throughout the day and night. Anyone who sees anything which raises suspiscion should immediately call the police.
If it was arson that is indeed terrible. However if it was a homeless person with nowhere else to go it is sad.
This fire was a close call. I can’t imagine anything more horrible in this town than the thought of the Great Auditorium going up in flames. The idea is terrifying.
During shows there, everyone is cautioned against smoking anywhere near that massive wooden structure. Yet somehow a tent sitting within spitting distance of the GA goes up in flames. What was it–spontaneous combustion? Of course it is a suspicious fire!
I have no idea what kind of security patrols that area overnight, but the watching over the GA must be scrupulous. If they don’t have video cameras, they must get that as well as some sort of fire alarm system for the exterior aspects of the GA.
I hope the fire investigators report back to the citizens of OG soon. We waited a very long time to hear a verdict regarding the Manchester Inn, and the final conclusion was not very satisfying in my opinion. —-Paul @Blogfinger
Do you mean a trespasser who broke and entered the property of another person and then destroyed the structure via probable third-degree (reckless) arson? We pay mucho taxes to support expansive social services. I have no sympathy here.
I’m sorry for the person who lost their tent. It’s sad to think there was possibly a homeless person inside who was trying desperately to stay warm in subfreezing temperatures.
Tragic. They can be rebuilt, but if they were in the same family for generations, they’ll not likely be the same.