A lightning strike ignited a fire at the Sea Turtle Recovery hospital located at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange on Wednesday night, damaging the facility and prompting a swift response from emergency services.
The fire, reported around 9:46 p.m., led to the evacuation of sea turtles from the building, which suffered roof damage, according to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. The West Orange Fire Department, along with mutual aid and Essex County Sheriff’s Office personnel, managed to control the blaze.
No sea turtles were injured in the incident. All turtles were relocated to a safe building within the zoo. Staff and volunteers from Sea Turtle Recovery conducted emergency examinations of the animals. Among the patients was a critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley turtle named Pickles, whose condition required immediate intervention. After experiencing a drop in heart rate, Pickles was placed in an emergency pool, which helped stabilize his breathing.
The Sea Turtle Recovery team expressed their gratitude to the first responders and zoo staff for their prompt actions. The organization noted that while the tanks and filtration systems may have sustained damage, the primary focus remains on the well-being of the turtles.
The Turtle Back Zoo will continue to operate during regular hours. Sea Turtle Recovery is seeking public support through donations and sponsorships to aid in recovery efforts.
For contributions, visit the Sea Turtle Recovery site or text “SEATURTLE” to 202-858-1233.
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The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
