FAST - Fire Action Safety Today
Holmdel, New Jersey
$5 Million Easter Egg for Holmdel Residents?
Excerpts from a Better Holmdel post - April 17, 2019
A surprising number of residents showed up at the re-scheduled Township Committee meeting on Tuesday morning, including one resident that joked that the Township should provide coffee and donuts if they are to schedule meeting at 9:00 AM. However, residents were treated to a pleasant surprise when Mayor Eric Hinds, Committeeman Rocco Pascucci and the rest of the Township Committeemen agreed to amend the 2019 budget to add $5 million for fire safety improvement and to increase the number of portable radios (which cost about $7,000 each) for EMS staff from 25 to 50.
Holmdel Bell Works Firehouse Plan Off The Table
Excerpts from PATCH Holmdel-Hazlet article - April 16, 2019
A proposed plan to open a new Holmdel fire station at Bell Works appears to be "dead on arrival" and officially off the table.
That's because the Holmdel Township Committee announced Tuesday morning they plan to issue a $5 million bond. Although nothing is set in stone, part of that money will go towards the renovation of the existing fire house on Crawfords Corner Road or the construction of a brand-new one. Holmdel would have to issue a bond (borrow the money) to pay for this $5 million expense.
Holmdel Public Pushes Back?
Excerpts from a Better Holmdel post - March 21, 2019
At Thursday night’s Township Committee meeting, most of the public comments echoed the sentiment of one resident that said: “There is no free lunch!”.
Prior to Thursday’s meeting, an article in the PATCH quoted Donna Vieiro, Holmdel’s Township Administrator, as saying that the township explored renovating the existing firehouse on Crawfords Corner Road but the “cost $1.5 to 2 million is prohibitively expensive”.
At the meeting, Administrator Vieiro said that she was misquoted, but that she didn’t think it was worth it to correct PATCH. It is not clear what was actually said when she was “misquoted”.
Holmdel May Build New Bell Works Fire House In Exchange For Apts
Excerpts from PATCH Holmdel-Hazlet article - March 25, 2019
"Holmdel is currently in talks with Bell Works developer Ralph Zucker to build a new Holmdel fire house behind Bell Works, in exchange for Zucker being permitted to build an undefined number of one-bedroom rental apartments in that same area."
"For the firehouse/apartments to happen, Zucker would have to petition the Holmdel Township Committee to first amend the redevelopment plan, and then the Holmdel Planning Board would have to approve the new plan. Still, construction could feasibly begin on a new Holmdel fire house before 2019 is over."
"Holmdel Twp. first explored renovating the existing Crawfords Corner Road firehouse, but Vieiro said that cost, $1.5 to 2 million, is prohibitively expensive."
Opinion by Ronald Emma
Posted in the Patch Holmdel-Hazlet on April 1, 2019
IS IT TIME FOR A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT IN HOLMDEL?
This question is on the minds of many Holmdel residents after the 4th major structural fire (all total losses) in less than two years. The results of the Town Council commissioned analysis of the Township Fire and Safety system by fire safety expert Harry R. Carter Ph.D, made clear that our current volunteer department of 35 highly dedicated individuals (the majority of whom are not even township residents) is simply not sufficient. Dr. Carter notes, “based upon my review of the nature of your community and its population, I would suggest that you should plan on developing a career department, supplemented by a volunteer support staff, as soon as possible.” Despite these recommendations, and the public’s reaction to the report at the Township Committee meeting on February 12th, two days later the Mayor released a video message that Holmdel would not consider a career paid department; that Somerset Development had “generously” decided to build the Township a firehouse on the grounds of their development, Bell Works; and, in return they would seek approval to build 195 one-bedroom rental apartments adjacent to the “free” firehouse
While the details are still being negotiated, it should be noted that neither the Deputy Mayor nor the Fire Chief were privy to these negotiations or consulted on the location of the firehouse, prior to this deal being announced. Mayor Hinds also stated that this would not result in a tax increase for our residents; however, most residents have already seen their homeowner’s insurance increase due to the downgrade of our Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification (ISO).
We are all thankful that none of these fires resulted in loss of life or major injury, but If fire safety is truly the priority all Committee members have mentioned publicly, the cost of a paid fire department along with the construction of a centrally located firehouse should be determined, put on the ballot, and residents should be allowed to have the final say.
Ronald E. Emma
Opinion by Regina Criscione
Published in the Two River Times, March 6, 2019
Southern Holmdel has experienced its fourth major fire since 2014 when the Holmdel Township Committee abruptly disbanded Fire Company #1 and closed its firehouse on Main Street. The Township claimed it had decreased response times by adding two firehouses and round-the-clock coverage. But this never happened. The new firehouse on Crawfords Corner Road was often unmanned. Furthermore, the fire truck from the old firehouse was parked in an unheated storage shed at Vonage and sustained major damage. A fire occurred in December 2015 directly across the street from this fire truck yet neighbors reported that it took an hour for Holmdel Fire Company #2 to arrive. Three more fires have since occurred (most recently on February 1, 2019) in which the buildings were completely destroyed.
I commend the courageous efforts of the firefighter volunteers of Holmdel and neighboring towns who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. But it is apparent that the Township’s mismanagement of this situation has put us at risk. Currently, Holmdel’s only operational firehouse is on Centerville Road, a twelve-minute drive to the burned-out building sites as well as my own home. And a just-released fire study commissioned by the Township concluded that Fire Company #2 is understaffed, ill-equipped and inadequately trained.
While the Township spent the last four years attempting to build sports fields throughout town, it has virtually ignored this lack of fire coverage in southern Holmdel. Township officials should re-align their priorities and restore our fire service before more people suffer.
Did closed firehouse slow Holmdel's response?
Excerpts from Asbury Park Press article - Jan. 22, 2016
“This fire proves closing it was a big mistake,” Hank and Sue Quincannon, who live next door, wrote in a letter to the Township Committee on Dec. 31. “We can’t help but feel that were Holmdel’s firefighting equipment closer, the response time would have been better and the fire brought under control sooner.”
Township officials told the Asbury Park Press this week they plan to reopen the unused firehouse but maintained its closure did not affect response times.
Township officials praised fire coverage in Holmdel and said the plan to resurrect Fire Company 1 is part of improving safety perceptions.
“We’ve had a number of fires, the response of our fire department is outstanding,” said Hinds. “We just need to use some common sense, we don’t want to close firehouses, we want to partner with firehouses.”
“My goal is to get it open by March 1,” said Impreveduto.
Holmdel Residents Meet To Discuss Fire Concerns
A new report strongly suggests Holmdel move to a paid fire department, and as quickly as possible. Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds says no way.
Excerpts from Patch Holmdel - Hazlet article - March 5, 2019
Holmdel Twp. paid to have a fire safety study done and its findings were released to the public this winter; you can read the report on the Township's website. Its findings are dismal: Currently, there are only about 35 volunteer firefighters in Holmdel; there used to be 65 - 75 several years ago. Two of Holmdel's existing fire trucks badly need to be replaced. Also, perhaps most alarmingly, the report found that Holmdel's population was not likely to provide sufficient volunteer firefighters, and that Holmdel should strongly consider a professional fire department.
"Based upon my review of the nature of your community and its population, I would suggest that you plan on developing a career department, supplemented by a volunteer support staff, as soon as possible," wrote Dr. Harry Carter, PhD, a fire protection consultant, in his report.
This prompted Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds to declare at a Jan. 29 Township Committee meeting that Holmdel would not be moving to a paid fire department. Paid fire departments can be enormously expensive, as taxpayers not only have to pay firefighters, but also provide health insurance and pensions.