After the Fire, a False Alarm for Jumpy Ocean Grove, NJ
Yesterday morning, several beloved 19th century buildings burned to the ground in historic Ocean Grove, New Jersey, including the Manchester Inn. The four-alarm blaze brought firefighters from a number of New Jersey communities to the scene. The Red Cross arrived to feed and otherwise serve the firefighters who worked for hours to control the fire and track the traveling embers. It was a wicked scene for this small square-mile town.
Tonight, a screaming parade of rescue vehicles -- dozens of fire engines, ambulances and cars outfitted with flashing lights -- came rushing into Ocean Grove, down Broadway to the shoreline, then turned north. Along the route, residents came pouring out of their homes, onto their porches and into the streets, standing under a torrential rain and asking of each other, "What's happening? What is it, what's happening now?"
My partner got on the telephone and immediately dialed a neighbor's number, hoping to get more information. A voice apologized: "All circuits are busy now." The last time I heard that particular recording, I was living in New York City, and the second of the World Trade Center's towers had just fallen to the ground.
We thought something was really wrong.
It could've been anything. It's been a strange weekend in Ocean Grove. Besides the fire, yesterday's tropical storm brought thirty-foot waves, and high winds that lifted our beach onto Ocean Avenue. Those same 50-plus mile-an-hour winds carried the burning embers of yesterday's first fire to the rooftops of adjoining houses. To my knowledge, the cause of that fire remains undetermined. The Neptune Township Police Department sent a recorded message to the telephones of residents on Saturday, asking to see photos or videos that anyone might have of the early stages of the fire. For all anybody knew, that mystery cause was out there causing more damage.
Maybe it's not fire, I thought, given the downpour. Maybe it's flooding.
I ventured out to a line of civilian cars waiting with caution for the emergency vehicles to pass on Broadway. Cars at the back of the line started turning around and driving back from whence they came. I knocked on a window and asked the driver what she knew.
"I think Neptune High School just won some kind of sporting event," she said with disgust, and quickly added, "I think it's the most tasteless thing I've ever seen."
I looked northward and watched as the same parade of carousing vehicles began working its way up Main Avenue and towards the town gate. They were leaving as quickly as they came, making a purposeful, cacophonous loop through Ocean Grove.
Apparently, there was no emergency in Ocean Grove tonight. Only the most irresponsible, thoughtless and insensitive celebratory expression you could've imagined for this wounded place, on this particular Sunday night.
Despite the rainfall, the sickening smell of charred wood, smoldering memories and blackened history still hangs heavy in the air. And no one, not one person in authority at Neptune Township had the BRAIN CELLS to stop and say, "Hey, maybe we can bypass Ocean Grove this time, fellas. That would be in bad taste."
The sight of dozens of fire trucks and ambulances racing urgently into town would've understandably alarmed anyone, even under more ordindary circumstances.
Not only did this unnecessary bacchanalia concern Ocean Grove residents, but I'm sure it was no emotional picnic for the people who lost their homes yesterday morning, nor for the friends and families of those same people. It wasn't pleasant even for me -- one of the lucky Ocean Grovians. I have only to mourn the loss to our town's unique character and history.
It requires a special trip to turn into Ocean Grove. It's not the sort of place you pass through on your way somewhere else; we're simply not situated that way. In other words, we are easily avoided. These same vehicles could've had their lights-and-sirens frat party without ever passing through the Grove.
Who did this? And more importantly, who failed to stop it?
Someone at Neptune Township owes a hearty apology to Ocean Grove tonight, and mere lip service via e-mail or some recorded police department telephone message isn't going to cut it.
Somebody was around tonight who saw this disrespectful display about to happen and had the power to stop it, or at least reroute it out of respect for Ocean Grove. That person needs to take responsibility for failing to make the right call, and RESIGN.
Think I'm being too harsh? Ask yourself why we're letting any bonehead without basic presence of mind hold a position of authority in this community. Aren't we supposed to be putting the important jobs into the hands of the smart people?
-- Kim Brittingham
www.kimwrites.com
Seeking permissions or other info? Contact the author: hello@kimwrites.com
Tonight, a screaming parade of rescue vehicles -- dozens of fire engines, ambulances and cars outfitted with flashing lights -- came rushing into Ocean Grove, down Broadway to the shoreline, then turned north. Along the route, residents came pouring out of their homes, onto their porches and into the streets, standing under a torrential rain and asking of each other, "What's happening? What is it, what's happening now?"
My partner got on the telephone and immediately dialed a neighbor's number, hoping to get more information. A voice apologized: "All circuits are busy now." The last time I heard that particular recording, I was living in New York City, and the second of the World Trade Center's towers had just fallen to the ground.
We thought something was really wrong.
It could've been anything. It's been a strange weekend in Ocean Grove. Besides the fire, yesterday's tropical storm brought thirty-foot waves, and high winds that lifted our beach onto Ocean Avenue. Those same 50-plus mile-an-hour winds carried the burning embers of yesterday's first fire to the rooftops of adjoining houses. To my knowledge, the cause of that fire remains undetermined. The Neptune Township Police Department sent a recorded message to the telephones of residents on Saturday, asking to see photos or videos that anyone might have of the early stages of the fire. For all anybody knew, that mystery cause was out there causing more damage.
Maybe it's not fire, I thought, given the downpour. Maybe it's flooding.
I ventured out to a line of civilian cars waiting with caution for the emergency vehicles to pass on Broadway. Cars at the back of the line started turning around and driving back from whence they came. I knocked on a window and asked the driver what she knew.
"I think Neptune High School just won some kind of sporting event," she said with disgust, and quickly added, "I think it's the most tasteless thing I've ever seen."
I looked northward and watched as the same parade of carousing vehicles began working its way up Main Avenue and towards the town gate. They were leaving as quickly as they came, making a purposeful, cacophonous loop through Ocean Grove.
Apparently, there was no emergency in Ocean Grove tonight. Only the most irresponsible, thoughtless and insensitive celebratory expression you could've imagined for this wounded place, on this particular Sunday night.
Despite the rainfall, the sickening smell of charred wood, smoldering memories and blackened history still hangs heavy in the air. And no one, not one person in authority at Neptune Township had the BRAIN CELLS to stop and say, "Hey, maybe we can bypass Ocean Grove this time, fellas. That would be in bad taste."
The sight of dozens of fire trucks and ambulances racing urgently into town would've understandably alarmed anyone, even under more ordindary circumstances.
Not only did this unnecessary bacchanalia concern Ocean Grove residents, but I'm sure it was no emotional picnic for the people who lost their homes yesterday morning, nor for the friends and families of those same people. It wasn't pleasant even for me -- one of the lucky Ocean Grovians. I have only to mourn the loss to our town's unique character and history.
It requires a special trip to turn into Ocean Grove. It's not the sort of place you pass through on your way somewhere else; we're simply not situated that way. In other words, we are easily avoided. These same vehicles could've had their lights-and-sirens frat party without ever passing through the Grove.
Who did this? And more importantly, who failed to stop it?
Someone at Neptune Township owes a hearty apology to Ocean Grove tonight, and mere lip service via e-mail or some recorded police department telephone message isn't going to cut it.
Somebody was around tonight who saw this disrespectful display about to happen and had the power to stop it, or at least reroute it out of respect for Ocean Grove. That person needs to take responsibility for failing to make the right call, and RESIGN.
Think I'm being too harsh? Ask yourself why we're letting any bonehead without basic presence of mind hold a position of authority in this community. Aren't we supposed to be putting the important jobs into the hands of the smart people?
-- Kim Brittingham
www.kimwrites.com
Seeking permissions or other info? Contact the author: hello@kimwrites.com
The White House official who approved the fly-by of that commercial jet around the Statue of Liberty for an ad resigned. That scared the crap out of people too the same way. If the White House is willing to do it Neptune should too at the least. How about that high school principal too.
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I couldn't agree with you more. We live right off Broadway and after the 1st firetruck or so I yelled to my husband, "looks like another big fire!" Then, we started hearing the honking, and saw people SITTING ON THE CAR doors, w/their bodies outside the car, like teens do. I said, "looks like a celebration, or a protest -- but that's so tacky!" At midnight I googled "fire truck sirens, ocean grove, 3/14" and came across your blog post. Thanks for the long write-up! I can't believe not one person in authority realized the inappropriateness of everything (and in my opinion every vehicle was speeding, btw). Wonder if and when it will be brought up by town officials. Especially given that the only people injured in the big fire were first responders, it's SO unbelieveable. (Of course, not in the paper today, that I see.)
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I freaked out when those sirens went screaming by our house. My first thought was another fire. My heart jumped, my adrenalin surged. And then when I saw the cars with teenagers hanging out the window... I became enraged. I couldn't believe they were doing this the same day Ocean Grove suffered a tragic loss to fire. I would like to know who authorized this. If you find out let us know.
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First off, I'm so glad you were one of the fortunate families who didn't lose their homes. I am so sorry to hear about the disaster in your community, and I agree that some of that energy could have been put to use helping in any way those who were hit. It's been a hell of a winter. Spring can't come soon enough.
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Thank you so much for writing this. My mother is 87 yrs old and lives in Oceang Grove and she called me terrified when this happened. I think it was very careless and they absolutely could have skipped over Ocean Grove under the circumstances. Thank you again.
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200% agreed. It was beyond tacky. When did the dukes of hazzard start running things around here?
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I am really sorry to hear that several beloved 19th century buildings were destroyed in historic Ocean Grove, New Jersey, including the Manchester Inn. In fact I can never forget Manchester Inn because we had spent our honeymoon there. It was my wife’s choice. In the beginning I was skeptical but soon I realized that we had made the right decision by deciding to stay there. I really wonder who is behind this cowardly act. I seriously feel that the authorities should wake up from their sleep otherwise such incidents will be happening again.
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