Dissolution of Keasbey Fire District #4

The fire district's attorney said the dissolution has nothing to do with fire safety and called it a land grab, noting developer SEI Keasbey Urban Renewal owns every lot around the 420 Smith Street firehouse and that the DCA report offers a reform option the township never discussed.

Keasbey's fire chief said the ordinance blindsided the 119-year-old volunteer fire company, criticized the township for keeping them in the dark, and noted that the developer's land purchases in 2022 came right after the mayor's concerns began — and that several firefighters never received the notification letter the mayor claims was sent.

A 31-year Keasbey veteran and three-time ex-chief disputed the state's call-volume figures, saying the district averages 16 calls a month not 10-12, and said council members DeJesus and Bauer had earlier told firefighters nothing was happening.

A past chief and commissioner argued Fords and Port Reading have the same staffing as Keasbey, questioned why only Keasbey is being dissolved, alleged the Mayor promised the firehouse to the developer, and urged the council to vote for the people rather than the Mayor.

A Hopelawn resident cited a 2022 news report that the township planned to sell the firehouse lot to Stalwart Equities for two warehouses, noted the state previously certified the department met all required improvements, and asked why the firehouse would be demolished if Fords could run dual companies.

The Keasbey fire commissioner disputed claims of imminent danger, saying career crews respond in two to four minutes with auto-aid coverage, asked for documentation that the state approved transferring all eight firefighters, and said the DCA never issued its promised updated report after a December 2025 review.

A Woodbridge resident said the situation is all about developers and money, argued the township could afford to build the fire department a new home, and warned that closing the closest fire department endangers lives.