The “Greek Temple” rooftop pool. Convenient for putting out fires. Corner of Ocean and Webb in Ocean Grove. Internet photo.
The Greek Temple at Ocean Avenue and Webb in Ocean Grove. In ancient Greece they knew about fire, but their neighbors had stone houses. Blogfinger photo.
Blogfinger.net special report:
It was 12:30 am, Sunday morning, June 21, 2020, when one of our reporters discovered a party fire burning on Ocean Avenue on the side lawn of the Greek Temple. A group estimated at 30 or more people were gathered around the fire, eating and drinking.
It looked like it might have been a fire pit, but nevertheless, it doesn’t sound safe or legal. Sparks could fly onto nearby rooftops.
Ocean Grove is chronically worried about fires, and we had a major one on the boardwalk in April 2019.
Seeing this fire on Ocean Avenue recalls the CMA having an open fire on the beach last summer to celebrate the 150th anniversary.
The fire reported this morning was at the “Gannon House” a place that has a number of nicknames including “The Bank” and “The Temple of Apollo.”
It has represented an insult to historic designation in the Grove and the possibility of corruption in the HPC approval process; and now it represents a careless and dangerous fire threat to our very combustible wooden town.
It is ironic that the Civil War reenactors were years ago forced out of town because they wanted to have campfires for the black Union troops. The Fire Department insisted that they leave.
So where was the fire department when this fire occurred this morning? Do you suppose that they offer negotiable rules regarding fire risks here?
How about an explanation from the OG Fire Chief.
So here we see privileged Grovers building an open fire, and no one forcing it to be extinguished. Were all the neighbors comotose or were they merely intimidated? Are they serving alcohol at this event?
This town is known for authorities who look the other way when laws are broken. Just look at the abysmal North End plan.
Is anyone surprised by this morning’s party fire?
Was anyone holding their breath over there?
REGINA SPEKTOR: The Genius Next Door
“The neighbors were starting up their cars
The garbageman were emptying the dumpsters
Atheists were praying full of sarcasm
And the genius next door was sleeping”