Keasbey, New Jersey — A historic fire department that served its community for more than a century has officially been dissolved, ending 118 years of local firefighting service after township officials argued that staffing shortages had created unacceptable safety risks.
The Woodbridge Township Council voted 8-1 on August 12 to approve a measure dissolving the Keasbey Fire Department and merging the district with neighboring Fords Fire Company. The decision followed years of debate over staffing, response capabilities, taxes and the future of the small fire district.
Mayor Says Public Safety Was the Main Concern
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said the decision was driven by public safety rather than finances.
At the council meeting, McCormac argued that Keasbey residents were not adequately protected under the existing arrangement because the department could not consistently provide the number of firefighters needed to safely enter a burning structure or meet required response times.
“This issue was not about finances but about public safety,” McCormac said.
According to the mayor, township officials had raised concerns about the department as far back as 2021. A state study requested in 2025 reportedly resulted in a 2026 recommendation supporting the merger.
McCormac also said Keasbey had the largest fire district taxes in Woodbridge despite being the smallest district with the fewest calls.
Fire Department Disputes Call Numbers
Keasbey Fire officials have strongly challenged the township’s description of the department’s activity.
Officials said the department responded to an average of 16 calls per month during the previous year, compared with the state’s reported figure of 10 to 12 responses per month.
The department also said it had responded to 10 calls during the week ending August 12, challenging the suggestion that the fire company was barely responding to emergencies.
The disagreement over call volume became part of a larger dispute over whether the historic department remained viable or whether consolidation was necessary.
1,452 Signatures Collected to Save the Department
Opposition to the dissolution was substantial. A petition collected 1,452 signatures from people seeking to stop the merger and preserve the department.
The petition emphasized the department’s long history, stating that generations of firefighters had protected residents, businesses, industries and visitors in Keasbey since 1908.
The fire company was originally established as Protection Fire Company No. 1 after a fire at the Ostrander Fire Brick Company highlighted the community’s lack of an organized fire district.
The company was formally established on June 1, 1908.
Fire Chief Accuses Township of Keeping Department in the Dark
Keasbey Fire Chief John Manna accused township officials of conducting private discussions and failing to adequately communicate their plans to department leadership.
Manna said the department should have received an explanation about what officials intended to do, why they wanted to do it and how the process could affect operations.
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McCormac has denied allegations that township officials improperly handled the process.
The fire district’s attorney, Howard Pashman, also claimed that a developer’s purchase of surrounding properties played a role in the push to dissolve the department. Pashman pointed to the firehouse at 420 Smith Street as the remaining property in the area.
What Happens to the Firehouse Now?
The merger also changes the future of the historic firehouse.
The department’s eight paid firefighters were allowed to retain their employment and move to other positions within the township, while volunteer firefighters were also permitted to continue serving elsewhere.
The former Keasbey Firehouse is now owned by Fords Fire District. McCormac said during the August 18 council meeting that Fords will make the final decision about whether the building is sold.
For a community that relied on the department for more than a century, the closure marks the end of a deeply rooted local institution. The debate, however, leaves residents facing a difficult question: whether consolidation represents a necessary step toward safer emergency response or the loss of an important piece of Keasbey’s identity.
What do you think about the decision to dissolve a 118-year-old fire department? Was the merger necessary for public safety, or should officials have found another way to keep Keasbey Fire Department operating? Share your thoughts in the comments.
