Video by Rick Racela
WILDWOOD CREST – The Greater Wildwood 20th annual Christmas in July Boat Parade ended with an unplanned pyrotechnic display. The aftermath was still burning July 20, and a Forest Fire Service helicopter ferried water in a huge bucket over the isolated island fire about noon in an attempt to extinguish the smoky blaze.
The smoke formed a thick hazy blanket across the marshes, and could be smelled and seen northward to Court House on the east side of Garden State Parkway.
The boats began their parade in North Wildwood at 7 p.m. on July 19 headed south toward Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest where fireworks were set to go off at 9:30 p.m.
According to bystanders, the fireworks ignited a fire on a small uninhabited island, in the borough’s bay. Many residents could see the smoke from blocks away.
The fire burned throughout the night through the scrub and brush on the island as late as 11:00 p.m. and fire boats were being called to fight the blaze.
Rick Racela
