Bass River Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1977

A fire started in the Bass River State Forest, New Jersey, around 1500 hrs on July 22, 1977; this was in an area of Pine Barrens and had a history of large, fast moving wildfires. Nine units had responded with the Initial Attack and had disengaged the fire at 1545 hrs. A brush truck from the Eagleswood Fire Company with four men aboard was responding to the incident after being called at 1600 hrs. It is not clear why, but this unit mistakenly proceeded into the fire area. At 1800 hrs, a reconnaissance helicopter spotted the charred truck on a narrow, dirt road.

Those Eagleswood Fire Company firefighters lost on the Bass River fire were: John "Reds" Baker, Herbert Blackwell, Harold "Skip" Cranmer, and Marcus Cullen.

Fatality, Engines, Initial Attack, Entrapment