Fire companies to merge in Franklin Township

By Warren Reporter

February 12, 2010, 5:08PM

FRANKLIN TWP. — The Asbury Fire Company #1 and Franklin Township Fire Companies 1 & 2, which are all located in the township, have decided to consolidate both companies together to provide a more uniform response to emergencies, according to a press release from the organizations.

The merged company will be known as Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Inc. There will be no closing of stations and all areas that are currently covered by the two companies will be covered by the newly merged company. The areas covered are all of Franklin Township and the valley section of neighboring Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County.

The stations are located in the villages of Asbury, Broadway and New Village. The new company will have over 60 members with three pumper trucks, one 75-foot aerial, one 3,000 gallon pumper-tanker, a command unit, an air truck and three brush trucks.
The Franklin Township Committee has started the process with the introduction of ordinance 2010-5, which calls for the consolidation.

“Members of both companies are now looking forward to a quick and smooth transition,” states the press release.

All calls will be under one chief as of March 1. The Township Chief of the fire department will be Sonny Read 57-60. There will be 2 Asst. Chiefs George Young 57-80 and Shawn Weilamann 57-70, Captain's positions will be held by Robert Woolf 57-90 and Jan Verkade 57-91, 3 Lieutenant positions will be held by Jason Dilts 57-92, Andrea Fortunato 57-94, and John Frechette 57-93. There will also be 2 Safety Officers. Please check this sight in the near future for changes and additional information!