By Amanda Stone & Shannon Connelly From the Coast Star
SEASIDE PARK — Nearly one year after area first responders helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, they were once again called to action to assist in responding to another devastating incident at the Jersey Shore Thursday afternoon when portions of the Seaside Park boardwalk and businesses went up in flames.
Locally, firefighters from Manasquan, Wall, Brielle, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Neptune City were dispatched to the scene around 5 p.m., according to Manasquan Fire Chief Mike Galos.
Each of the departments are part of the Southern Monmouth County Pipeline System Plan — a group of fire departments who, if needed, work together to create a large pipeline of fire hose to transfer a supply of water from one point to another, according to Chief Galos.
“That is what we were dispatched for,”Chief Galos said.
Upon arrival in Seaside Park, area firefighters set up a pipeline to transfer water to the north end of the boardwalk “to protect exposure from additional fire spread,”Chief Galos said.
Ultimately, the pipeline was not utilized.
“It was the next preventative move that did not need to be implemented,”Chief Galos said.
Area firefighters were then reassigned to help in other areas of Thursday’s fire call.
“Our resources were relocated and reassigned to relieve Ocean County units who had been on the scene since the beginning of the event,”Chief Galos said.
All departments part of the Southern Monmouth County Pipeline System Plan were able to leave the scene by 12:30 a.m.Friday morning.
South Wall Fire Rescue Chief John Sahatjian said the department had 15 people respond to the fire.
“We went down for the pipeline system, assisted with that, and then were circulated into relief and relieved guys that had been there since the beginning,” Chief Sahatjian said.
Chief Sahatjian said they relieved firefighters by putting hand lines into the rubble where pockets of fire were still burning.
“We were hitting the hot spots and giving them a rest,” Chief Sahatjian said.
Chief Galos said Thursday’s fire call was unlike any other.
“It was the largest operation we’ve ever been a part of,” Chief Galos said. “It’s hard to believe a fire can run and do the damage it did and take out those businesses as fast as it did.”
Chief Galos said his, and other area fire departments, were happy to be able to assist in Thursday’s fire.
“We’re glad we could help out and send firefighters down there,” Chief Galos said. “Monmouth County is always glad to help out Ocean County.”
Other agencies outside the pipeline system also assisted at the blaze, including Lavallette and Point Pleasant Beach.
