Aging, smaller volunteer firefighting crews spark discussion of regional fire di

[anon-8q9r]

By Renée Kiriluk-Hill and Cristina Rojas

The reality of fewer and older fire volunteers, increased demands and the high costs of equipment have prompted the mayors of three towns to consider creating a regional fire district.

They are exploring the idea as a way to control taxes without cutting services, but the discussions have so far been without input from the six volunteer fire companies fully within the three Hunterdon County municipalities.

West Amwell Mayor George Fisher, Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio and Delaware Township Mayor Roger Locandro meet regularly to discuss shared services.

Several proposals for a police merger in the region fell through in 2010 and 2011, but the towns have found success elsewhere, including a shared animal control officer, the South Hunterdon Renewable Energy Cooperative and a proposal in the works to merge elementary school districts in Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell with the South Hunterdon High School district.

"Within 10 years we may run out of volunteers," Locandro said. "We're balancing the volunteers we have with ever-increasing demands" on their time because of state regulations and call volumes. http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2012/09/aging_smaller_volunteer_firefi.html#incart_river_default

[anon-25r5]

This is a concern for Cranbury. I really hope we never get to the point.