LAKEHURST – The Borough’s Fire Company closed its doors at Station 62 after 113 years on April 1 and it was no April Fool’s joke.
A day later, during the first Borough Council meeting of the month, the mayor and council adopted resolutions accepting the resignations of Borough Fire Chief Sean Parker, Assistant Fire Chief lain James, Theresa M. Davis and Joshua N. Davis from the Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Company.
Councilwoman Patricia Hodges and Councilman Steven Oglesby both questioned the wording of the resignation resolutions clarifying that Parker’s resignation was for his position and a “leave of absence request” as a member of the fire company.
“As we are voting on this, we either have to reword that or we need to strike it,” Oglesby said.
Mayor Harry Robbins noted, “Mr. Parker is here (in the audience) we could ask him what he is actually doing and we can change this resolution right now.”
It was clarified that Parker wasn’t resigning from the fire company itself, only his position as chief. “My intention is to resign as chief, not to leave the fire department. At some point in time, I do plan on returning if that is allowed but right now the stress and responsibility is just not what I need.”
Borough Clerk Maryanne Capasso pointed out that James had not indicated in his letter that he was leaving the fire company only his position as assistant chief.
Councilman Robert McCarthy who serves as the council’s liaison with the fire company remarked that “Iain pulled the plug. It is my understanding that he has left period.”
“My interpretation of his letter was that he was resigning in its entirety from the fire company and that Chief Parker was leaving as chief and he was asking for a leave of absence as a firefighter,” McCarthy added.
Mayor Robbins recommended the resolution concerning James be left as is.
Parker noted that James was a life member of the department. “I don’t know if he actually needs to reapply or ask for a leave of absence because he is already a life member at that point in time he was resigning as assistant chief.”
The mayor assured residents that fire companies in neighboring Manchester Township and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will respond to fire calls in the borough. “The borough is protected under mutual aid.” The fire company’s official status is on hold. The company is not disbanding at present.
Fire units in Manchester’s Ridgeway, Whiting and Joint Base began answering calls on April 1. The fire company will be “temporarily shut down due to ongoing firefighter retention issues,” the mayor stated in a public notice. During the meeting he said that the shared services arrangement was already covering the community with the shortage of fire company members on calls.
The Lakehurst Volunteer Fire Company based on Proving Ground Road has had a strong presence in the borough, and their mission is to provide the highest standard of fire prevention, education, and suppression. It has been a 100% volunteer department and their services included fire prevention, education, suppression, rescue services, and hazardous incident response.
The department covers Lakehurst and surrounding areas through a mutual aid agreement with neighboring departments such as Manchester, Ridgeway, Whiting, and the Joint Base.
The department has been very engaged with the community with representation at National Night Out events in Lakehurst/Manchester each August, fire prevention programs at Lakehurst Elementary School and an autumn fire pit fundraiser at Lake Horicon plus their participation in the annual Lakehurst Historical Society Chili Cookoff. They also participate in the Fourth of July and Halloween parades down Union Avenue and they transport Santa Claus on their truck for the annual Borough Christmas tree lighting in December.
Firefighters and residents have been telling The Manchester Times for months that getting new volunteers and maintaining their existing roster of members has been a difficult challenge in recent years. This same concern is shared by the Lakehurst First Aid Squad whose building is adjacent to the firehouse.
Residents and elected officials of the community have voiced their concerns during prior council meetings. Last fall, the Proving Ground Church across the street from Station 62 held an event that showcased the need for volunteers and dedicated their service to supporting emergency response units such as the fire company and first aid squad.
Parker told The Manchester Times that he didn’t know how many members the fire company currently had but “it has been below 20 for several years now.”
According to the Borough’s website, the volunteer fire company was organized (as the Manchester Volunteer Fire Company #1) after the rope factory, an early industry, was destroyed by fire in March 1911. The department underwent a name change when Lakehurst separated from Manchester Township and became the Borough of Lakehurst in 1921. Members of the volunteer fire company responded to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.
The website noted that volunteers manned three pumpers; a 1989 1250gpm Grumman, a 1975 1000GPM Great Eastern (refurbished in 1989), and a 1984 1000gpm FMC pumper. It is unknown as to what will happen to the station’s equipment.
