Beach Haven Fire Co. ‘officially welcomes home’ three newest trucks

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Members of the Ship Bottom Fire Co. help push
Beach Haven's 2015 Spartan pumper into the station.

Nearly 70 fire trucks and ambulances paraded down Long Beach Boulevard from the Acme supermarket in Long Beach Township to the Beach Haven firehouse on Bay Avenue in honor of the department’s triple housing on Saturday, April 30. The celebration drew hundreds of people, including members from more than 40 fire companies from across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The event was held for the dedication of three of the Beach Haven Fire Co.’s newest vehicles: a brand-new 2015 Spartan pumper that made its way to the firehouse in September, a custom-built water rescue truck that was driven home from Texas in July and a 5-ton flood and forest fire response truck acquired through the New Jersey Forest Fire Service after Superstorm Sandy. Members from all of the Island’s fire companies helped push the trucks into the Beach Haven firehouse during the ceremony.

“It’s a long-standing tradition that officially welcomes home the vehicles,” said Matt Letts, Beach Haven fire chief. “The fire service is full of traditions, and that’s one of them.”

The event was originally planned as part of the department’s annual block party during Chowderfest weekend in October but had to be rescheduled due to flooding concerns from a nor’easter. The pumper, built by Spartan ERV in South Dakota, had just been picked up by members at the New Jersey State Firemen’s Convention in Wildwood at that time. The pumper has replaced a former truck that was totaled due to rust and mechanical failures from Sandy. It has a 2,000-gallon-per-minute pump, which is more powerful than all the other vehicles the company utilizes, Letts said.

Alongside the housing ceremony, a re-dedication of the original section of the firehouse, which was constructed more than 100 years ago, was led by the Rev. Frank B. Crumbaugh of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church. The fire company itself is the oldest in Ocean County. It celebrated its 133rd anniversary last week.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.