New Jersey Community Places Fire Department Out of Service

Posted by: Curt Varone January 18, 2012 0

A New Jersey community has taken steps to close its volunteer fire company, and contract with a neighboring district to provide protection. The Folsom Volunteer Fire Department had served Folsom Borough since 1946.

The Borough and the department had been at odds for years, and Borough officials attribute the move to close the department to the members’ refusal to submit to government oversight. The trucks and equipment were removed from the fire station last Thursday after the Borough entered a 10 year agreement with Collings Lakes Fire District.

The move apparently caught the Folsom VFD by surprise. While removing the equipment, Folsom Borough served the department with a lawsuit seeking to block the VFD from selling, removing or disposing of any equipment, property, or assets. The suit claims the property was bought with taxpayer funds.

According to the PressOfAtlanticCity.com, the agreement with Collings Lakes Fire District for fire protection requires a payment of $15,000 per year and states that all fire equipment used by the Folsom Volunteer Fire Department will be made available to the Collings Lakes Fire District.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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