Long Branch Volunteer Fire Company Damaged by Hurricane Sandy
Company seeks donations to help repair interior damaged by flood waters
Most of Long Branch's government and emergency service buildings escaped Hurricane Sandy unscathed, but one of its fire companies was not so lucky. Branchport Hose Company No. 3, at 241 Branchport Ave., was the only of the city's five fire houses that was damaged by the hurricane. "We had four feet of water on the first floor; the engine bay, the living room, the kitchen, everything," firefighter and Long Branch resident Stephen Lepper said. Luckily, he said, firefighters were out and about using the company's trucks during the hurricane, so they were not affected. The entire first floor of the fire house has been gutted, right down to the original framework from 1905, Lepper said. The company's close proximity to the Branchport Creek was …
