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Red Bank fire chief details June 24 blaze, urges smoke-alarm outreach and volunteer recruitment
Summary
Red Bank's fire chief recounted the June 24 fire at 249 Shbury Avenue, praised mutual-aid responders, reported several firefighters treated for heat exhaustion, said the property lacked working smoke alarms and asked the borough to help with a smoke-alarm distribution campaign and volunteer recruitment.
The chief of the Red Bank Fire Department told the borough at its public meeting that firefighters, EMS and mutual-aid partners responded to a large June 24 blaze at 249 Shbury Avenue, praised response coordination and asked the council to help expand smoke-alarm distribution and recruit volunteers for the department.
In his account the chief said the day’s extreme heat contributed to multiple personnel needing treatment for heat exhaustion; one firefighter required hospital transport. He also said the municipal and county fire-marshals, police officers, public-works staff and local business owners all assisted at the scene and that the coordinated response included a state police helicopter medevac for a seriously injured person.
Primary requests: The chief said the property at 249 Shbury Avenue “did not have working smoke alarms” and asked the borough to help publicize state and Red Cross programs that install free alarms, to consider donation drives and to help recruit volunteer firefighters. He emphasized that any borough assistance he requested would not require additional municipal funding and noted past borough practice of distributing alarms to seniors and other residents.
Council reaction and resources: Council members and staff said they would re-check state and county programs, coordinate with the county fire marshal and the Red Cross, and consider including smoke-alarm outreach in upcoming fundraising mailings and public-awareness events. A staff member noted that New Jersey now requires 10-year sealed smoke alarms in many residential settings, which reduces the battery-maintenance burden for residents.
Quote: The fire chief said, “I do not know if you are aware that the property did not have working smoke alarms,” and asked the council to help with outreach and donations to expand alarm distribution.
Next steps: Councilmembers suggested working with the chief and county partners to identify installation programs, to place donation receptacles at community events and to promote online Red Cross installation-request forms. The chief also urged residents to consider volunteering and to accept offers of training and outreach from the department.
