Fire/Rescue News - CAPE MAY CO. VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. HAS A NEW HOME
Sunday, October 04 2009 @ 07:23 am EDT
Contributed by: CBrining
MIDDLE TWP.-- One Cape May County fire company held a party to dedicate their brand new home and new life saving equipment....Continue Reading
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There was a lot to celebrate today for residents in Middle Township.
It's been years in the making, but the township's volunteer fire company number one has a brand new place to call home. "This building became available three years ago, was going to go up for sale, decided it was the best place in central of Court House to put up a new building," said K.P. Arenberg, Fire District Commissioner.
Family, friends and residents had the opportunity to tour the hand avenue facility and learn about firehouse operations.
But the $5 million dollar structure wasn't easy to come by and firefighters say they owe it all to the first district residents for their vote of approval. "They were very supportive of us."
The fire company's old firehouse about a block away has been around since the 1920's. Today they answer over 400 calls a year and with nearly 50 firefighters, they simply outgrew their space. "We have a lot more room it's a lot safer when guys put on their gear and it will be used as a shelter for hopefully the next 100 years."
They kept the buildings original steel beams and built up around it.
Their new home is twice the size of their old home and has plenty of room for meeting space, offices, locker rooms, storage, kitchen and recreational facilities to hopefully keep the volunteers ready for action. "You know when there's a call, there's weight rooms, shower, hopefully guys will hang out here and be here a lot compared to the other facility."
And they can now safely house their 8 fire trucks including this brand new heavy-duty rescue truck. "We cover three lights on the parkway...we do a lot of extrication, different accidents and things. This really means a lot to our fire company here," said Michael Clark, President of the Middle Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
The fire company’s old firehouse on Boyd Avenue was sold to the township. There is no word at this time what the township plans to do with the structure.
