Township purchases generator; Red Cross reviews site
By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
A generous donation and a desire to be more available to residents fueled a decision to go to bid to purchase an emergency generator for installation at the Hillsborough Fire Company No. 3, on Woods Road, in case of a power outage or other need for evacuation from nearby homes and schools.
According to Mark Brownlie, emergency management coordinator, the fire company received a donation of $360,000 in 2006 from Toll Brothers, through developer’s offsite contributions for Roycebrook Meadows development.
The money was to be used to purchase a mobile command center for emergencies. Once the purchase had been made, they were left with $60,000, which they have chosen to use for an emergency generator.
”This is specifically for emergency preparedness,” Mr. Brownlie said. “All companies are in need of this to operate in case the power runs out.”
The Township Committee, on Tuesday, approved a resolution to allow the fire company to begin advertising for bids to purchase the generator, which will help in the plan to make the building qualify as an emergency shelter.
Committeeman Bob Wagner said that the township is looking to purchase a generator that runs on both diesel fuel and natural gas, and can run for two to three days on one tank if necessary.
According to Mr. Wagner, the rivers and streams that border the township are prone to flooding in heavy rains or other weather circumstances. He said that, with the generator and a new shelter that will be approved once the generator is in place, the township is trying to make sure there is always a place for residents to go.
”We want to establish another facility for people to be housed for any length of time,” he said.
Mr. Brownlie said that Fire Company No. 3 is in a good location to be available for those residents on Woods Road, who might have a difficult time making their way across Route 206 to the municipal complex on South Branch Road in the case of an emergency.
Currently, the municipal complex is the only approved shelter in the township.
In addition, Mr. Brownlie said, the fire company is the closest available emergency spot for students at Woods Road Elementary School.
”It is beneficial for people on that side of town,” he said of the decision to turn the fire house into a possible emergency shelter. “If we get flooded, the fire house is closer to many residents and the school.”
Mr. Brownlie said that the township entertained the plan to purchase the generator simply as a security precaution.
He said the American Red Cross inspected the fire house and found it met the requirements for being listed as a shelter, such as having a working kitchen and handicapped parking spaces. Purchasing the generator will complete all the requirements implemented by the Red Cross.
”We looked at all the fire houses to decide which one would have the most capabilities,” Mr. Wagner said.
Although Mr. Wagner said the township has endured several natural disasters, including Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and the April nor’easter, they have never endured a situation where the municipal complex was not large enough to accommodate all the people needing a place to stay.
”But we still wanted to establish another location in town to shelter individuals,” he said. “We are just trying to prepare for the future.”