FAST - Holmdel’s Latest Citizens Group

March 1, 2019 – In the wake of the Blue Hills Drive fire and the alarming findings in the long-awaited release of the fire study, a group of concerned residents announced the formation of a new citizens group called FAST – Fire Action Safety Today.

Holmdel elected officials have frequently proclaimed that fire safety is a priority. However, FAST indicated that since the closing of Fire Company #1 in 2014 without an adequate backup plan, not only were there no significant actions taken, the fire safety condition for Holmdel has actually deteriorated.

Based on information obtained through an OPRA request, residents learned that Holmdel’s fire rating from the Insurance Service Organization, a rating that potentially affects homeowner and business insurance premium rates, was downgraded in 2018 despite given a 12-month advance notice back in Feb. 2017 to make improvements. In addition, the number of firefighter volunteers has decreased from about 65 - 75 several years ago to the current level of about 35, a startling trend. The public was kept in the dark about these two developments. There was no action taken to address the level of volunteers until just prior to the release of the fire study on Jan. 31, 2019.

Kin Gee, a member of FAST, said that: “Fire Company #1 was formed with thirty-seven Chartered Members on March 10, 1917. It is ironic that, more than 100 years later and despite the population growth, Holmdel Township has less firefighters today than when Fire Company #1 was first formed.”

The new nonprofit, non-partisan group, has as its Mission to "drive significant fire safety improvements for Holmdel on a timely basis.” FAST seeks to accomplish this by sharing information, providing input and monitoring actions.

FAST will be making a presentation on the findings of the fire study at the annual meeting/”pot luck” of CILU – Citizens for Informed Land Use - on March 15th at Holmdel’s Senior/Community Center, 6 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ.

This meeting is open to the general public.

You can attend the CILU “pot luck” starting at 6 PM by bringing your favorite dish. Please RSVP to Jenni at 732-264-8482 or jenni@blumenthal.com.

Alternatively, you can attend just the fire study presentation which is expected to start at around 7:30 PM.