1970-80 Fire Official  

  1970-80's Inspector 

  1980's Fire Official  

  1990's Fire Inspector 

  2000's Fire Official  

 _{2006 Fire Official}  

ESTABLISHMENT  & enforcement The Local Enforcing Agency (L.E.A.) known as the Jackson Township Bureau of Fire Safety Fire District No. 3 was established by ordinance by the Fire Commissioners of Fire District No. 3 to enforce the New Jersey State Uniform Fire Safety Act in all buildings, structures and premises within Jackson Township Fire District No. 3, other than owner occupied one and two family dwellings. In January 2006 the Fire Bureau entered into an agreement with the Board of Fire Commissioner District 1 to become it's L.E.A. The Fire Bureau is now known as Jackson Township Bureau of Fire Safety of Fire District 1 & 3. The Local Enforcement Agency reinforces the need for owners & tenants of buildings to adhere to laws concerning fire and life safety. Building owners who adhere to the laws of fire safety enhance the safety of firefighters who respond as well as the public who visit. Enforcement is a tool to educate the tenants and owners of the importance to keep a fire safe building.       

FIRE OFFICIAL  Fire Official Frank McDonnell, a veteran firefighter of over 28 years was promoted to Fire Official in March of 2002 after serving as fire inspector for four years. As Fire Official he serves as the Chief administrator of the Fire Bureau. The Fire Official is certified by NJ Department of Community Affairs who directs and administers the enforcement of provisions of relevant fire safety codes and related regulations. He also reviews site plans and makes fire safety recommendations accordingly to the code. 

Fire Official McDonnell oversees the Fire Safety Bureau budget and determines how best to serve the Fire District needs in fire safety programs and activities. The budget is established by income received annually from fire prevention inspections. He also establishes day to day operating routines of the bureau and coordinates the activities of firefighters or inspectors conducting fire safety programs. As Fire Official he is responsible to investigate or causes to be investigated every reported fire or explosion that involves loss of life or injury or causes destruction or damage to property within the Fire District. Additionally he responds to all fire or emergency calls as well as drills, training and schooling.

FIRE SAFETY AND JUVENILE FIRESETTER PROGRAMS   Firefighter Mim Stacy coordinates the fire safety and juvenile firesetter programs within the fire districts. Some of the programs include fire safety demonstration by our firefighters who attend schools and teach fire safety to the students. Juvenile firesetter program is a tool for curious kids who set fires. Other programs include fire extinguisher training and fire safety presentations to community groups and organizations.

FIRE INSPECTORS    Career firefighters of Fire District's 1 & 3 also conduct fire inspections under the authority of the Fire Official within his jurisdiction. In addition to fire inspections, firefighters preplan commercial businesses mapping out hazards, utilities, building history and contact information.  

MISSION STATEMENT   Fire safety education is designed to develop or change the attitudes and behavior of men, women and children towards fire. It encompasses a wide spectrum of programs and activities directed towards such diverse audiences as school children, senior citizens, homeowners, employees, church and civic organizations. The main objective of fire safety e ducation is to increase awareness of human actions that could lead to fires and to develop skills and knowledge to prevent fire or to minimize exposures in the case of fire. Educational programs help to obtain the cooperation of the citizens served by the fire department

One- and two-family sprinkler systems

The time is now!!

June 25, 2009

The information that Senate Bill 2962 which would have prevented installation of residential sprinkler systems will be withdrawn is good news. A lot of activity has been going on behind the scenes at the Local, County and State levels to respond to the bill posting and reach out to the Senator for an informative dialog.

Many individuals, organizations and groups deserve a pat on the back for a good job. However, we have a long way to go and a good offense is much better than playing defense.

Everyone needs to reach out to their Senators and Assembly members to educate them on this issue with the facts and to let them know where you stand. It will be much better if we can prevent future bill filings.

If you want information and resources to use you can reach out to the NJ Residential Sprinkler Coalition Committee by contacting NJ Fire Safety Commission Member Chief Fire Marshal John Lightbody at:   Chiefjohn1@comcast.net  .

You will find additional resources at these web sites.

http://www.firesprinklerinitiative.org/index.asp

http://www.njfsab.org/resources.html

http://www.homefiresprinkler.org/

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM FIRE OFFICIAL FRANK McDONNELL

Site Plan Review  Site plans can be mailed or dropped off at Fire Bureau Office located at 200 Kierych Memorial Dr. Jackson NJ 08527. The fee for site plans shall be $50 for the review of any site plan or subdivision for the purpose of fire prevention as to the location of fire hydrants, fire drafting stations, water mains and fire lanes/zones. In addition, where any site plan is resubmitted for review, an additional fee of $25 shall be payable upon any such resubmission.

Rapid Entry Box and Key System (Knox Box) The owner, tenant and/or occupant of said building and/or structure which is 12,000 square feet and which has an automatic fire suppression system or fire alarm system, exempting owner-occupied single- and two-family dwellings are required to have installed on the same a rapid entry box and key system to allow access to the same and access to boiler rooms, sprinkler control valves, electrical rooms, elevators and elevator control rooms and other locked areas of the premises as may be required by the Bureau of Fire Prevention or Fire Official  of the fire district in which said building or structure is located. Emergency key boxes also may be required at the discretion of the Fire Official for under 12,000 sq ft buildings.

Community Fire Safety Programs & Demonstrations  Please contact The Fire Bureau office for information on programs such as;  Fire Extinguisher Training, Fire Safety House for Kids, Fire Safety  Power Point Presentations, Free Smoke Detectors and Flyers, Scheduling a Business Fire Pre Plan or  Fire Drill and Juvenile Fire Setter Program.

Change Of Use Group   It shall be unlawful to change the use of any structure or portion thereof without the prior application for and issuance of a certificate of occupancy. A certificate of occupancy shall be issued provided such structure shall comply with the provisions of N.J.A.C. 5:23-6, Rehabilitation Subcode.

FIRE SAFETY ALERTS & RECALLS 

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY STATE UNIFORM FIRE CODE

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY STATE UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE

Click Here For Important Information

Fire Demonstration And Why Sprinklers Are Necessary

Wednesday, May 13, 2009by Jason Allentoff WOBM News
Sometimes common sense becomes the main focal point of a news story. It can be something simple like "buckle up for safety" or "don't drink and drive" - yet we all sometimes need a little reminder. Maybe if there were more risk factors shown or demonstrated and we saved the statistical figures for text books, we would see less incidents out there.

By the year 2012, all new residential construction in the Garden State will be required to include fire sprinkler systems. A demonstration was held Tuesday to show what the sprinklers can do. The event took place outside the Toms River Fire Academy on Church Road. About a hundred people including fire officials and local residents came out to see what was up.

Two virtually identical mock bedrooms were set up. A bed, television, dresser and some window drapes were featured. One room had fire sprinklers installed - the other didn't. A staffer set both ablaze as members of the Toms River Fire Academy stood by with hoses in case the flames got out of hand.

Within three minutes time, the room without the sprinklers was totally engulfed in flames. By six minutes, the flames had to be put out by the fire fighters standing by leaving behind a charred blackened mess. The fire in the room had left it uninhabitable.

However, the room with the sprinklers was saved with only minor damage that can be salvaged. Toms River Fire Chief John Lightbody says during a fire, time is of the essence and having sprinklers installed is like "having your own personal fire fighter on hand 24hours a day, 7 days a week. You need this kind of equipment in your home. Also, smoke detectors. Smoke detectors and fire sprinklers are like hot dogs and mustard. They go together and will save lives." Bob Yaiser is the Public Education Officer for the Toms River Fire Academy. He says its common sense that time is a vital component and having sprinklers is "a very good idea and it is well worth the cost."

Dan Detrolio is with the State Fire Safety Commission. He says "we won't stop till sprinklers are made mandatory. It's an added tool at saving lives and homes and you can't put a price tag on that. Besides, it's not expensive when we're gonna save lives!" He says more than 4-thousand people perish in fires nationwide each year and sprinklers will "cut that number down significantly."

Posted by WOBM News at 7:44 AM

Fire Officials: Household sprinklers can save lives
APP May 12, 2009
A fire that starts in the garbage container can rip through a room in a matter of minutes, leaving only a blackened, gutted shell behind, fire officials say. In a similar room, a fire can blacken only a curtain and garbage container before a single sprinkler kicks on, drenching the room with water and lessening the potential damage. The difference in the scenarios was part of a demonstration today presented by the Uniform Fire Prevention/Protection of Ocean County, the New Jersey Fire Safety Commission, and the National Sprinkler Association, to show how sprinklers in residential buildings greatly reduce the size and severity of a fire, saving lives of residents and firefighters.

"(Having sprinklers) is the equivalent of having a fire department at your residence,'' said Bob Yaiser, the public education officer for the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention. "We don't hesitate to sprinkle our front lawn to keep our grass from burning. Why would you not want to spend the money to protect your home and save yourself?'' 
Approximately 100 members of local fire organizations and the public gathered to watch a real time demonstration of how a fire affected two identical dorm-like rooms, one with sprinklers and one without. Read more about the value of sprinkler systems in the Asbury Park Press.
-- Chelsea Michels

Please sign Proclomation for Residential Fire Sprinklers

Residential Fire Sprinkler Facts 

  Are You Prepared for the 2009 Hurricane Season

Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Winds can exceed 155 miles per hour. Hurricanes and tropical storms can also spawn tornadoes and microburst, create storm surges along the coast, and cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall. Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential. Category Three and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes, though Categories One and Two are still extremely dangerous and warrant your full attention.

Hurricanes can produce widespread torrential rains. Floods are the deadly and destructive result. Slow moving storms and tropical storms moving into mountainous regions tend to produce especially heavy rain. Excessive rain can trigger landslides or mud slides, especially in mountainous regions. Flash flooding can occur due to intense rainfall. Flooding on rivers and streams may persist for several days or more after the storm.

Before a Hurricane

During a Hurricane

Evacuation

Unable to Evacuate