Oldmans adopts stricter junior-firefighter rules and temporarily suspends Auburn Fire operations

The Oldmans Township Committee on Oct. 9 adopted two ordinances that restrict the duties of junior firefighters and set a minimum staffing level for apparatus, and it voted to temporarily suspend Auburn Fire from operating while an investigation proceeds.

The committee approved Ordinance 2024-09, which adds two rules barring 14–16 year old junior firefighter members from being dispatched to live emergencies and from riding on firetrucks or brush trucks. The measure drew no public comment and was adopted by Resolution 2024-126 after a motion by Dean Sparks and a second from Mayor David Murphy; William Ferrell recorded an abstention.

A second measure, Ordinance 2024-10, requires a minimum of four firefighters on a firetruck before it leaves the station, with a narrow exception allowing a single firefighter to staff the water tanker for transport only. That ordinance was adopted by Resolution 2024-127 on the same votes: motion by Sparks, second by Mayor Murphy, and Ferrell abstaining.

Later in the meeting Mayor David Murphy moved to temporarily suspend Auburn Fire from operating as a fire company pending further investigation. Dean Sparks seconded. A roll-call vote recorded Murphy and Sparks voting yes and Ferrell abstaining; the motion passed and the committee entered executive session to address related personnel and governance matters.

The ordinances will change who may be deployed on emergency calls and set a formal minimum crew size before apparatus leave the station. The minutes record no public testimony opposing or supporting those specific provisions during the hearing. The committee's next procedural steps include whatever internal or investigative actions are taken in executive session; the minutes show the suspension action was followed by an executive session on contract negotiations, litigation and emergency-services personnel issues.