Crime & Safety
Here's What We know About Devastating Ocean Grove Fire
Many people just discovered the cafe that opened and became popular after Superstorm Sandy. Now it's gone.

It was the place at the north end of the boardwalk, the kind of place where you weren't sure to enter because there didn't seem to be a lot going on. It became known to people after Superstorm Sandy, when a lot of the Shore lost a lot of good places to eat.
But once you entered the Dunes Cafe and saw its nine vendors – including the popular Days Ice Cream – you'd find that you wished you'd discovered it way earlier.
And now it's gone.
Find out what's happening in Asbury Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Read more: 21 Devastating Pictures Of Aftermath Of Ocean Grove 'Dunes' Fire
On Sunday, firefighters were still working to snuff out the remnants of the devastating structure fire at a Dunes Cafe pavilion in Ocean Grove, officials said. Videos show the scene where the boardwalk was closed as the fire continued well into Saturday afternoon and overnight (see below).
Find out what's happening in Asbury Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here's what we know now:
- Parts of the boardwalk were destroyed as the fire appeared to devastate the pavilion known as the Dunes Cafe at the north end of the boardwalk.
- The fire continued to smolder well into the evening and into Sunday, nearly 24 hours after the fire was reported:
FIRST LOOK: Part of the Dunes Boardwalk Cafe building has been taken down by authorities -- this pile of rubble still burning tremendously on the beach. More details on this massive #OceanGrove fire that's been active for nearly eight hours tonight on @FiOS1NewsNJ. pic.twitter.com/a034gk0iWp
— Stephen Milewski (@TheSkiReport) April 13, 2019 - The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office said it didn't know what caused the fire, but it appeared as though it started underneath Dunes Cafe.
- Smoke could still be seen coming from the building on Sunday:
SMOG! The morning after the fire at the Dunes building in Ocean Grove. They are still putting water on it 20 hours after the fire started. #OceanGrove #fireatthedunes pic.twitter.com/rzx6AHDABq
— Karla Beatty (@KarlaBeattyArt) April 14, 2019 - Eyewitnesses said the roof of the building collapsed and that emergency personnel were telling people on the beach to stay back after the 11:30 a.m. Saturday fire broke out.
- The Asbury Park Press had a drone video capture the aerial view of the fire:
- Asbury Park was also getting intense smoke from the fire:
Asbury Park experiencing intense smoke on boardwalk from fire in Ocean Grove pic.twitter.com/nG7Yhs8xFL
— Jim Pavia (@jimpavia) April 13, 2019 - This is a developing story. We'll have more information as it comes in.
Related: Videos Show Fire Raging At Ocean Grove 'Dunes' Pavilion (UPDATE)
Here are more videos and pictures from the scene:
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