District also must preserve fire companies’ heritage
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Residents of Florence Township will be asked in February to vote on a 3.25-cent fire tax rate increase. With this increase, fire officials said they would like to make improvements in the district that could result in bringing down the fire insurance costs of homeowners and improving service.
Part of the upgrading process includes the possibility of improving the three existing fire stations or building a new facility to house all of the township’s fire stations.
We favor the new facility to house all the stations. However, it is imperative that the district prominently preserve the history and memorabilia behind the three fire companies. Otherwise, the single facility, which already could be a bitter pill to swallow for the volunteers who prefer the separate companies, could be downright choking.
It’s a changing world, and there are many elements of a single facility that make sense. Communications would improve. And a central location would provide a reduction in the cost of providing materials in triplicate for the three stations.
Fire officials also said because there are three fire companies and two rescue squads in the township, five organizations are competing for a rather limited number of volunteers. One facility, officials said, cater to the most vital of the district’s resources its volunteers by employing them in all possible emergency situations in the township.
Township Fire Chief Edward Kensler said centralizing the township’s fire companies would eliminate three separate chains of command and "personality conflicts" onto a fire scene when many companies are called.
We asked him what could be done to preserve the distinct histories of the three companies if the central facility is built.
"We want to especially stress to the older members of the fire companies that we don’t want to take any of the companies’ history or heritage away," he said. "We want to build upon it and work from the base (that history) has provided the township."
If the central facility is built, Chief Kensler said he wants a history room in the new facility featuring the artifacts, photos, memorabilia and old equipment from the three companies.
History is important in Florence Township and its communities. First, the township is old enough to have a rich amount of history to preserve. In addition, the town of Florence and the village of Roebling have always taken pride in their separate identities. Two of the companies are in Florence and one is located in Roebling.
We believe Florence and Roebling are far too strong as communities to think centralizing fire services would take away from their histories or personalities. We also believe both towns understand that the ultimate goal here is to save lives and the reason why people become volunteers is because something internal calls them to be a dedicated public servant who can make a difference in someone’s life.
It is important to stress that residents who don’t want a single facility should still vote for the approval of the fire budget. Voters will not be voting specifically for a new building and the district is going to need the additional funds whether the three stations stay and are improved or the new facility is built.
If anyone in the community has a proposal or idea as to how keeping the three companies would be economically prudent or sensible, we would like to hear from them so we can add it to our collection of insight. But for now, we look forward to the possible centralization of the township’s fire services.

