Fire company marks 40 years
BY ELANA ARON Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - This year marked the 40th anniversary of the East Freehold Fire Company, Dutch Lane Road. Celebrations were held throughout the summer to honor 40 years of service to Freehold Township.

Begun in 1967 by Jack Allen and Harry Read, the fire company started out in an old converted schoolhouse on Dutch Lane Road that has since been renovated several times and continues to serve as the fire company's main base. Annexes were later constructed on Pond Road and Daniels Way.

The company, which has more than 70 firefighters, all of them volunteers, responds to calls within an 18-square-mile area from the east side of Route 9 North between Route 524 and East Freehold Road.

Fire Chief Evan Berman is in his fourth year as fire chief and has been with the company for 26 years. He said the department responds to about 500 calls annually.

The firefighters, who are trained in emergency medicine as well as firefighting, respond to many motor vehicle accidents to extricate victims. Other calls include house, hotel and industrial fires.

"We're pretty busy," said Berman. "We get some bad motor vehicle accidents."

According to Berman, the firefighters have to go through 13 weeks of training before becoming state certified.

Berman said the fire company is closely linked to the community. Firefighters hold their annual Santa Claus Run, attend birthday parties and host an open house during Fire Prevention Week during the second week of October.

"We're big into our community," he said. "You have to keep in touch with the community and the kids."