Politics & Government

Tinton Falls will hold fire district elections on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Fire District No. 1 presented an overview of its budget to the mayor and council last month.

Tinton Falls residents will vote on Saturday on budgets for both fire districts within the borough from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Fire District No. 1 Commissioner Thomas Wieczerzak formally presented the budget to the borough council last month and pointed out that the district has reduced its tax rate for the third consecutive year and comes in well under the new two percent tax cap.

Residents will also have the opportunity to reelect Samuel Hawkins, who is running unopposed, as the fourth of five fire commissioners in the district.

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The largest costs for the district, which encompasses the Wayside and Pine Brook Fire Companies, are: the remaining 10 years on the mortgage on the Wayside facility; updating turnout gear for the 65-members of the all-volunteer unit; and funding the upkeep of the 300 fire hydrants throughout the district at $42 per month, per hydrant.

The district recently received a $109,000 federal grant to purchase protective gear for its members and a $1,000 grant from New Jersey American Water Company to purchase a defibrillator.

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Wieczerzak, who is captain of the Wayside Fire Co., said that the number of calls the district has responded to has increased over the last three years from 300 to 450 calls annually. He attributed that to the amount of population growth the southern section of the borough has experienced over the last 10 years.

Along with residential areas throughout the district, the fire companies also provide services to the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets and Seabrook retirement community. Wieczerzak, who also serves as his fire company’s assistant treasurer, said that they responded to two major fires at Seabrook in 2010.

Fire District No. 1 also gets called in when there is a fire at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center, as well as for incidents along the Garden State Parkway. Wieczerzak pointed out that Monmouth County ranked second in total number of traffic fatalities in 2010 with 47 fatalities in 42 crashes. Six of those fatalities occurred along the Garden State Parkway and Route 18 sections that run through District No. 1. They also assisted in 30 traffic-related extrications in 2010.

The Wayside Fire Co. serves as a training area for firefighters throughout the region and a loft upstairs has been outfitted to help train for different emergency scenarios from entering a building through an upstairs window to rescuing a child.

Wieczerzak compared having to finance the upkeep and replacement of members’ turnout gear to police officers paying for their uniforms and bullets. The cost for pants and coats alone is $2,500, said Wieczerzak.

The fire district also needs to make serving as a volunteer a worthwhile experience, said Wieczerzak, and tries to provide coffee and bagels for the volunteers and a weight room that’s used by police officers and volunteers throughout the borough.

“It’s part of keeping the volunteer spirit up,” said Wieczerzak. “It’s a great group of people we have here.”

 

 

 

 

 

 


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