Ocean County Fire Marshal warns of dangers after saltwater flooding
Meredith Hyland watched in horror out her bedroom window as flames destroyed Boulevard Pizza and Sincerely June across the street from her home and cheese store.
More Stories
The Ocean County Fire Marshal is sounding the alarm of the dangers left behind after saltwater flooding in the wake of the nor'easter. Fires are popping up all over flood zones, especially on Long Beach Island.
Meredith Hyland watched in horror out her bedroom window as flames destroyed Boulevard Pizza and Sincerely June across the street from her home and cheese store.
"I was sleeping in my apartment upstairs and smelled smoke and looked out and that was completely engulfed," she said.
Two days earlier, she nearly lost her store, Fourchette, just hours after returning to the island. Flames erupted out of the refrigerators in seconds when Hyland flipped the electrical breakers back on.
"What happened across the street could have happened to us. The first responders were here within two minutes and immediately put out the flames," said Hyland.
"On Monday morning, we had 22 fires with refrigerators. The water comes up, people unplug them, plug them back in, and they walk away," said Long Beach Township Mayor Joseph Mancini.
The Ocean County Fire Marshal is now investigating eight fires that happened during and after the nor'easter. In this Beach Haven neighborhood, the storm pushed several feet of saltwater on land covering everything in sight.
"The business just opened this summer. Both of those businesses. The building was just purchased and completely renovated. Boulevard Pizza opened mid-July and Sincerely June just opened.," said Pam Bernardino of Beach Haven.
The Ocean County Fire Marshal says if your home or business experienced flooding in this storm do not turn anything on before having a licensed professional electrician inspect your building.
Hyland was lucky. Her replacement cold cases just arrived, and the shop will be open for this weekend's Chowder Fest, the unofficial end of the island's busy season.
"I think just being more prepared and absolutely getting the building checked out before you turn on the power," she said.
