The Air Force started the huge brush fire in NJ
By scorpiobabes
@scorpiobabes (7225)
United States
May 16, 2007 9:08pm CST
The Air Force is taking full responsibility for the huge fire here in NJ...it's burnt five homes, damaged a dozen more and hundreds of people (many of them senior citizens) have been forced to flee their homes. New Jersey got a break this evening with a heavy rainstorm that has helped them begin to contain it. It's still raining heavily in the area, helping the 1000 or so firefighters fight this. But my question is--why did the pilot and the commander think it was ok to drop a flare into the extremely dry Pine Barrens? It's been a few years since we've had a really big fire (I remember them occuring several times), but this is the first time that they could definitely identify the perpetrators. The Air Force says they will make reparations to the home owners, but what about the expense of bringing in the firefighters from around the state?
2 people like this
4 responses
@nowment (1757)
• United States
17 Apr 08
I remember when this happeened I live in the area, but not close enough to be evacuated by it thankfully, detoured around some road yes,
Had friends who worked doing the fire fighting, the expenses are more than just homes,
It got to the point in some places where the firefighters had to cut the hoses [couldn't pull them back out of the area] and just run out of the area themselves.
In fact in some places the hoses yes still had water going through them caught fire.
So the fire was bad and hot. It is interesting that the air force is actually claiming their responsibility interestingly enough even though I am around men and women from Fort Dix and Ft McGuire and play cards with some of the fire fighters I hadn't heard that the Air Force was doing this until I read this post.
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
18 Apr 08
It was a scary time for those that live out that way (about 45 to 50 minutes east of me). I didn't realize they had to cut the hoses though? 
My neighbors' homes (2) caught fire back in 2005; we were having the road redone and they shut the water off to the hydrants (without notifying us!), so they had to truck it in at least a quarter mile all around--what a mess! THAT never came out though! 
My neighbors' homes (2) caught fire back in 2005; we were having the road redone and they shut the water off to the hydrants (without notifying us!), so they had to truck it in at least a quarter mile all around--what a mess! THAT never came out though! @nowment (1757)
• United States
18 Apr 08
That is insane, that your neighborhood is left at risk like that with the hydrant's power cut.
Yeah one of the fire fighters that a friend plays cards with was telling him how when they were getting out of an area due to the fire, another group had asked them for help wanted them to go to that area and they couldn't because they had to cut the hoses and leave them behind.
so yes one careless drop of a flare was extremely expensive and destructive.
@patootie (3592)
•
31 May 07
How utterly stupid .. !!
I bet they thought they'd get a little fire that would last a few minutes and be 'fun' to watch .. and if they are stupid enough to try that stunt are they really the people you want to have in charge of a $30 million dollar warplane .. I think NOT ... let's hope they lose their jobs ..
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
27 Mar 08
victor, I don't think that was really called for here 
...and I'm not sure if they did lose their jobs or not (someone had to though!). I'm sure the pilot got some sort of reprimand in his file though! 
...and I'm not sure if they did lose their jobs or not (someone had to though!). I'm sure the pilot got some sort of reprimand in his file though! 
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 May 07
As the USAF has accepted responsiblity for the fire I think they will also compensate the firefighters.
1 person likes this
@mugzy528 (800)
• United States
17 May 07
My Cousin called me up and told me about it.He lives out that way and I think it's messed up they did something like that. When i lived up there My Taxes were 6,000 a Year Now where I live my Taxes are 400 a year and I live on four acres of land. I'am so glad I got out of that State..lol
But I think they should Pay for everything but that does not replace the things people lost in there Homes there personel things. And they should not raise there taxes again that is just screwed up.
Have a Great Day/Night.
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