Here is an add block free version of the article:
https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-ap...ingle-working-fire-truck-amid-funding-dispute
while this is concerning, there are additional items to consider:
1) the town has a total population of around 3,000, over 1200 households.
2) the town is less than 1.5 square miles.
3) it has the 25th highest property tax rates in the state.
4) the fire department has 10-15 active members (as per the article)
5) 4 years ago, this department was involved in a
crash involving one of their engines; the driver has been charged with was charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide in the incident
Truth be told, does this FD even need to exist? Home rule requirements aside, would it be better to have them contract their fire protection with one of their neighboring departments? NJ is notorious for having departments that cover tiny areas (
East Newark FD has a a coverages are of .13 sq miles, which is the entire town), so the solution to this might be a regional department, or at least regional coverage of the area. Yes, there are political considerations, pride, funding, etc, but if the AHJ doesn't want to or is unable to fund their own fire department, it might be a good idea to contract those services to a neighboring department.
