Photos from Dry Dock fire July 21, 2009…

Station 44 reports to structure fire in Ortley Beach…

Flames are seen shooting through the roof of a home on the 200-block of Fielder Avenue in the Ortley Beach section of Toms River. Responding to the blaze were firefighters from Seaside Heights, Lavallette, Ocean Beach, East Dover and Mantoloking.

Firefighters were on the scene for approximately one hour.

CLICK THE ARROW BELOW TO BE CONNECTED TO A VIDEO OF THE ORTLEY BEACH FIRE, NOW PUBLISHED ON youtube.com:

Station 44 reports to a fire in Ortley Beach…

Seaside Heights firefighters responded to this call in Ortley Beach on the chilly evening of Friday January 25, 2008.

Station 44 reports to a fire in Ortley Beach: On the chilly evening of Friday January 25, 2008, Station 44, The Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Department responded to the report of a potential structure fire at a condominium complex near 1st Avenue and Bay Boulevard in the Ortley Beach section of the Township of Toms River. The unit is occupied by summer-and-weekend-only residents, who fired up their heating system this cold first night of the weekend. Shortly thereafter, the distinct smell of smoke permeated the unit, and authorities were alerted. Upon arrival, a team from Station 44, led by Chief James Samarelli, isolated the smell, which was determined to be from burning wood under the furnace. The smoldering material was extinguished in short order. In addition to Station 44, fire squads from East Dover and Ocean Beach were dispatched, but were canceled before arrival.

Station 44 reports to Structure Fire at 131 Franklin Avenue…

 

Station 44 members quickly extinguished this structure fire at 131 Franklin Avenue just before 8 a.m. on Sunday December 2, 2007.

Smoke from the fire at 131 Franklin Avenue could be seen for blocks.

Station 44 firefighters quickly extinguished an early morning fire at a single family home at 131 Franklin Avenue in Seaside Heights. The fire was reported at about 7:45 a.m. on the morning of Sunday December 2nd. Initially dispatched to a possible structure fire at 31 Franklin Avenue, a second dispatch was quickly updated to a fully involved structure fire at 131 Franklin. A large cloud of black smoke could be seen rising from the small yellow-sided home, and it was visible for blocks. Our cameras arrived just as the firefighters had knocked down the flames that had been coming out of every window in the front of the house. Because of the home’s very small size, the entire structure sustained severe damage. Firefighters had to cut into the roof to exhaust smoke from the interior of the structure. Commanding the scene was SHFD Chief James Samarelli, and leading fireground was 1st Assistant Chief Billy Rumbolo. Also responding to the scene was the Point Pleasant Beach FAST team, which often responds to calls in Seaside Heights. After the fire was extinguished, representatives from the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the scene. This is the second time Station 44 has been to this property in 2007. In September, the SHFD reported to a problem with the home’s gas meter. The home was said to have been occupied by a group of Mexican immigrant tenants. 3 of the occupants of the home were treated for burns. 2 were treated on scene, and one went to the hospital. Luckily, the eastern side of 131 Franklin consists of a vacant lot, and a neighboring house on its west side was not threatened. This is a far different story then the last big structure fire Station 44 fought in late October at 113 Carteret. In that case, flames licked at an adjacent structure, one of the buildings of the complex of the new Oceana Villa luxury condos, and completely melted the siding of that building.

Station 44 reports to structure fire at 113 Carteret….

The upper unit of this home in the rear of 113 Carteret Avenue was completed gutted by fire during the early morning hours of October 29th.

A quick moving fire completely gutted the upstairs apartment in the rear building of 113 Carteret Avenue in Seaside Heights during the early morning hours of October 29th, but firefighters from Seaside Heights prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent luxury condominium building. According to commanding officer, 1st Assistant Chief Billy Rumbolo from the SHFD, the call came in at about 3:30 a.m. Bartenders from Captain Hook’s Bar noticed the fire and awakened nearby neighbors. (According to a neighbor from the same property, the premises had just been vacated about two hours earlier by the previous tenants.) First responders from Station 44 encountered the upper unit fully involved in fire, with the wind spreading the flames towards one of the four buildings of the large Oceana Villas condominiums, separated by just a few feet. Although siding was melted, the other building was not ignited. Flames could be seen coming from every window of the upstairs unit, and damage was complete. However, it only took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Also responding to the blaze was the FAST team from Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Park FD. Lavallette FD also assisted by being on call to respond should another call come into Seaside Heights while the Station 44 firefighters were on the scene of the structure fire. Following the blaze, investigators from the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office were on the scene for approximately six hours. After the OCFM was done with the investigation, the building was then cleared so that the Station 44 firefighters could examine the scene and officers could perform a critique of operations as part of on-going education. The complex at 113 Carteret Avenue, which is known for its landmark lighthouse that adorns the front of the property, is owned by landlord Theodore Szejnrok. In 2005, a structure fire inflicted heavy damage at 34 Fremont Avenue, another building that is owned by Mr. Szejnrok.

Flames threatened the neighboring Oceana Villas condo building, melting siding, but not igniting the structure.

Station 44 members attended a critique at the site of the structure fire the following evening.