Future of Keasbey Fire Department in question as Woodbridge Township seeks closure
Members of the department claim township officials want to convert the firehouse into a warehouse facility.
More Stories
The Keasbey Fire Department has served as a cornerstone of its community for more than 100 years.
Now, firefighters and residents are fighting to keep the historic department open as Woodbridge Township moves forward with a proposal that could shut it down.
Volunteer firefighters say they are frustrated by the township's plans and feel their years of service are being overlooked.
“Upset because here we are devoting our time coming here, volunteering for the township and for the residents, and we are getting railroaded by the township,” Lt. Luis Montalvo said.
Others believe the move is less about public safety and more about the value of the firehouse property on Smith Street.
“It is a shame. They want the property. That’s what it comes down to," said Fire Chief John Manna.
Members of the department claim township officials want to convert the firehouse into a warehouse facility. They argue that concerns about the department only surfaced after a developer expressed interest in the property.
“It was never an issue until the developer came in and wanted to purchase the property to put up their warehouses, and they were told no,” Manna added.
Mayor John McCormac disputes those claims, saying the decision is solely about public safety and is unrelated to previous development proposals involving the property.
McCormac says the proposal comes after years of concerns about the department’s ability to respond to emergencies. McCormac says the township asked the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Fire Safety to conduct a study of the department, which recommended the township pursue the closure and transfer of services as the safest and most sustainable option.
“The people in Keasbey are not as safe as the people in the rest of Woodbridge Township right now,” McCormac said. “Our No. 1 responsibility as elected officials is public safety.”
According to McCormac, the state report found that while the department could attempt to expand its operations, doing so would not be sustainable long-term. He says the department’s staffing levels have been a major concern, noting that Keasbey employs eight career firefighters who work rotating shifts, making it difficult to meet firefighting staffing standards during emergency calls.
The mayor also said the department no longer has mutual aid agreements with neighboring firehouses, leaving it without the same level of support available to other districts in Woodbridge Township.
Firefighters with the Keasbey Fire Department oppose the proposal and say they were blindsided by the township’s plans. They claim they were never formally notified that the department was facing closure and have accused township officials of seeking the property for future warehouse development.
Some firefighters worry the closure could have a significant impact on their livelihoods and sense of community.
“Some of us, we have families to feed and bills to pay,” one firefighter said. “It's like taking away a family and a second home, and not only that, our jobs are at stake.”
The mayor also pushed back against those concerns that firefighters would lose their jobs if the department closes. He says all eight career firefighters would be offered positions in neighboring departments, including Fords, Woodbridge and Port Reading, with comparable or better pay and benefits.
“This is not a matter of getting rid of a department and just abandoning those eight public employees,” McCormac said. “They all have jobs.”
Firefighters, however, say they have been told by neighboring departments that no plans have been communicated regarding additional staffing.
The Keasbey Fire Department has launched a petition opposing the proposal and is encouraging residents to attend the next Township Council meeting on Aug. 12.
The Woodbridge Township Council is expected to make a final decision that evening on whether to adopt the ordinance that would close the Keasbey Fire Department. Earlier that day, the New Jersey Local Finance Board is expected to consider the proposal at the state level. If approved, emergency response services in Keasbey would be handled by neighboring fire departments.
