The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-27
WOODS FIRES PERIL
NEW JERSEY TOWNS
Flames Level Dwellings in
100000 Acre Sweep North
of Lakewood.
BARNEGAT POINT CIRCLED
Patients i'm Allentown Hospi-
tai Removed-1,000 Citi-
zens Fight Menace.
BARNEGAT POINT CIRCLED

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
LAKEWOOD. n. j., April ga forest
fire that started at 10 o'clock this
morning at Lower Squantum. two
miles east of here, was burning to-
night after wiping out 100000 acres of
trees and brush. destroying four struc-
lures and threatening the tuberculosis
Hospital in Allenwood. BY nightfal it
had split itself into three tongues of
flame. one of which was sweeping
toward Point Pleasant and the third
toward Greenville.
1t is not known in what manner the
fire was kindled. When discovered a
strong northwest wind was blowing,
and, famed by this, it crept through
brush and other dry materials for two
miles in less than forty-five minutes.
Many large trees were cut down at the
stem and consumed as they toppled
over in the fires path.
At Allenwood the fire burned its way
to within fifty feet of the tuberculosis
Hospital and for a time ii looked as
though the institution was doomed de-
spite heroic efforts to save It, MOTOR
lists who happened along Joined nurses
and other hospital attendants in fortn-
ing a bucket brigade, and water Was
thrown on the walls of the building.
which is of brick and frame construc-
ton.
The flames finally were diverted from
the direction Of the hospital. Meantime
seventy-five patients had been carries
on cots to a field nearby, where they
remained until all danger had passed
Edwin Burdge, Fire Warden of Mon
mouth county. with 700 citizen voiun-
teers fought the fire all day with sand,
but they made little progress because OF
the Roadway it had gained AT most OIL
the villages in the fire zone other voiun-
teers were successful in preventing the
encroachment of the flames on built up
sections. but two frame stable buildings
we're destroyed at Allentown and it was
reported two dwellings had been burned
in Herbertsville. six miles from here.
Telephone communication beteen Lake.
wood and Herbertsville was crippled
during the afternoon.
Two Of the fires were under control
after several hours fight. but the third
is travelling in the direction OF Point
Pleasant. The wind had died down and
the fire fighters hoped to check this fire
before it consumes much more timber
land.
Hundreds of rabbits and quail were
driven from their haunts in the forests
and the swamps during the progress OF
the fire.
A second forest fire has been raging
all day in Monmouth county and at
midnight was burning fiercely despite
combined efforts of citizen volunteers
OF a dozen towns and villages. The
Barnegat peninsula and the mainland
across Barnegat Bay to the west are
being swept by the flames and several
towns have been threatened
At Ortley the Ortley Inn has been
destroyed with three bungalows nearby.
Two cottages were burned at Cedar
Grove, one at Silverton and another on
the line between Ortley and Lavalette.
The fire started ten miles south Of
Point Pleasant and has spread twelve
miles or more on both sides OF the
bay 1t was reported from Silverton
that after destroying n cottage two
miles from the post office there the
flames had cut swath a mile and a
half wide by three miles deep through
the Guilford woods. travelling in a
southeasterly direction. and wrecking
MANY improved farm sites