Interested in helping your community? Laurence Harbor Fire House provides free training to volunteers —​ no prior experience is necessary.

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — The Laurence Harbor Fire Department would like to invite everyone to an open house from 1-4 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 8.

The Laurence Harbor Firehouse is located at 20 Laurence Parkway, Laurence Harbor.

The open house is a chance for kids to climb on trucks and try out an actual fire hose, and for all members of the family to learn about fire prevention and safety, particularly cooking safety — the theme this year is Cooking Safety Starts With You! It's also a chance for anyone who is interested in volunteering with Laurence Harbor Fire Department to learn more and get involved and help their community.

LHFD provides free training to volunteers — no prior experience is necessary.

1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 20 Laurence Parkway, Laurence Harbor

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“Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association. By following safe cooking and kitchen practices every time, our residents can do a lot to protect themselves, each other and their homes,” said Laurence Harbor Fire Chief Brian Stitzel.

Those who attend the open house will learn the steps they can take to prevent cooking fires and stay safe if there is a fire.

And why not train to keep the whole community safe?

“As a Laurence Harbor Fire Company volunteer, you will build life-long friendships while learning skills that allow you to protect your neighbors and their property,” Stitzel said. “No experience is necessary, training is free and you’ll never forget these experiences.”

Fire Department volunteers will be available at the open house to talk about their volunteer experience and answer questions. They will also showcase the techniques and equipment they use to cut open a car and rescue accident victims.

The open house will also offer children and families many opportunities to have fun and learn about the fire department, Stitzel said. Kids can try their hand at using an actual fire hose. Anyone who loves fire trucks and other apparatus (and who doesn’t?) can view LHFD’s fleet and even climb on a vehicles. And the bright pink fire truck from Central New Jersey Pink Heals - a non-profit that supports people who are fighting cancer - will also be on hand.

Laurence Harbor Fire Department will also provide fire safety handouts for both children and adults to take home.

"Don't Wait for a Hero. Be One." Join LHFD1 and make a difference in the lives of others:

The Communication Solutions Group, Community Contributor

|Updated Fri, Dec 30, 2022 at 9:36 am ET

Looking for a New Year’s resolution that will give you the opportunity to not only change your life, but make a positive impact in the lives of others? Consider volunteering with LHFD, like Kyle Fisher and Nick DiGrigorio, who both embody LHFD’s slogan, “Don’t Wait for a Hero. Be One.”

“Don’t Wait for a Hero. Be One”

Fisher received a recruitment flier in the mail, and it was the encouragement of a very important person that convinced him to become a volunteer firefighter.

“My 6-year-old daughter told me that I should join so I can help people that are in need,” he said, and protecting those in need is what he enjoys the most about being a volunteer firefighter.

“Being part of a team that is all working towards a common goal is the most satisfying aspect,” he said. “When there is a call, we arrive at the scene, ready to help in any way we can.”

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While in training at Middlesex County Fire Academy, Fisher learned a lot in the classroom that he was able to apply in training drills.

“The process was fun and the classes were informative,” Fisher said. “I enjoyed the physical aspect of the training the most, because we were able to apply the things we learned in the classroom to real-life situations.”

All training and gear are free. Volunteers learn how to protect lives and property, enhance life skills and even create life-long bonds with other members of the department.

Unlike Fisher, DiGrigorio has been in fire service for several years — he became a firefighter in 2008 in his hometown of Keansburg, N.J.

“I saw a huge fire, and watching how the firefighters operated and how they were doing certain things, I just thought it was so cool and heroic,” he said. “I want to get into that,” he thought to himself at the time.

When DiGrigorio moved to the area, he decided he wanted to continue volunteering. He reached out to a few friends for a recommendation and received nothing but positive reviews of LHFD. Even though he recently joined in October 2022, he’s confident that he found a new firefighting home. His advice for those who are interested in volunteering is to stay positive throughout the journey.

“At times you may have to come out of your comfort zone, but the key is to keep an optimistic outlook,” he said.

Find Out What You Are Capable of Becoming

New volunteers will learn what they are fully capable of once they join. Fisher — who is a little older than many new firefighters — proved in training at the Fire Academy that he could more than hold his own physically.

“Despite being 36 years old when I started, I was able to still get in there and keep up with people almost half my age,” he said.

Volunteers can expect to continue to learn new skills through the guidance and leadership of more experienced members.

“Training never ends,” Fisher said. “The members that have been here for a long time make sure the newer guys are learning the skills they need.”

Additionally, DiGrigorio has learned a lot about himself since he first became a firefighter. And what leads him to continue volunteering is being able to make a difference — back in his hometown and now in the communities of Laurence Harbor and Cliffwood Beach.

“I’ve learned that I can be a good leader, one that somebody can look to as a mentor,” he said. I’m able to adapt well to stressful situations. Being able to help the community and the people around me at their worst point is highly satisfying,” he said.

Whether someone is an experienced firefighter like DiGrigorio, or someone who decided to become one like Fisher did not too long ago, the department is always on the lookout for new members who want to help protect the community.

“Volunteer firefighting is the best way to get involved in the community and feel good about the work you’re doing,” Laurence Harbor Fire Chief Brian Stitzel said. “Make it your New Year’s resolution for 2023 and get started with us!”

About Laurence Harbor Fire Department

Laurence Harbor Fire Department is seeking motivated individuals to join as volunteer firefighters. Volunteers can expect to participate in training sessions and contribute to administrative duties across the department. Visit lhfd1.com/ to learn more and complete an inquiry form.

OLD BRIDGE – Morris Habitat for Humanity, a major builder and leading advocate for affordable housing in New Jersey, wants to build more affordable units in the township.

Morris Habitat is seeking preliminary and final major site plan and subdivision approval to construct a 12-unit affordable residential townhome development in six duplex buildings with associated site improvements at 200 Laurence Parkway in the Laurence Harbor section.

The .76-acre property, which has been designated by the township as an area in need of redevelopment, is located in a residential zone where townhomes are permitted.

The property is owned by the township and Morris Habitat is the conditionally designated redeveloper of the property.

The property formerly was the site of the Laurence Harbor Senior Citizen and Social Services Center which was demolished several years ago.

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The townhome units will be restricted for sale to owners with low- and moderate-income levels, and the project is included as part of the township's affordable housing court settlement.

The applicant is seeking variances for landscape ratio and parking.

Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com

Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

OLD BRIDGE – The township may receive $2.25 million in federal funding for a new community and recreation center along the Laurence Harbor beachfront, which is initially estimated to cost about $5.1 million.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., recently announced that he secured the funding in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bill, which the House is expected to vote on in the coming months.

“This new shared space will help keep our friends and neighbors active and bring the community together,” Pallone said in a news release. “I look forward to seeing this project move through the legislative process.”

The plan includes demolishing the existing building at the site and constructing a two-story 9,000-square-foot facility. The second floor would have a 1,319-square-foot terrace and the ground level would have an outdoor plaza and an amphitheater-like seating area.

"During these difficult economic times it’s important to recognize the need to increase and encourage recreational opportunities for our working families," Mayor Owen Henry said in the release. "We are excited to share the proposed conceptual plans for the Laurence Harbor Community Building. This is the first step towards the revitalization of Old Bridge’s waterfront, which will not only spur economic growth but also create an engaging destination place within the Township. The Township is currently working on designating the Laurence Harbor area as an area in need of redevelopment which will drive reinvestment and redevelopment opportunities.”

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Township Engineer Nicole Shapiro, at a township council meeting in April, said the original building, which was built in the late 1970s and renovated in 2003, is oddly shaped,

"It's almost two octagons put together," she said.

The building is currently being used for summer camp, adult fitness and cooking classes, sports meetings and local civic groups. It is also used as a staging area by emergency personnel when there are events on the waterfront.

EI Associates was awarded the request for proposal to prepare a conceptual design, Shapiro said.

The new facility would include restrooms that can be accessed internally, as well as a men's and a women's restroom that can be accessed from the exterior for beachgoers.

Shapiro said the facility could also be used as a revenue-generating event space, an emergency shelter, as well as a warming or cooling facility.

Shapiro said the township is hoping to construct the facility in 2023.

sloyer@gannettnj.com

Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

The volunteer fire department deals with a wide variety of calls depending on the season

The Communication Solutions Group, Community Contributor

|Updated Fri, Aug 19, 2022 at 1:25 pm ET

Laurence Harbor, N.J. - While residents of Laurence Harbor and other nearby towns enjoy the community’s beach in the summer months, the fun and excitement of summertime comes with certain risk factors, and therefore a variety of fire and rescue calls for the Laurence Harbor Fire Department.

Members of Laurence Harbor — made up of all volunteers — must be capable of both water rescue missions and fire suppression if and when a call comes in.

“As a department, we face interesting challenges geographically,” Chief Brian Stitzel said. “We’re in close proximity to major cities, popular shore towns and of course our own beach community, so we see a variety of water emergencies.”

Rescue and fire suppression drills are held annually, typically early in the summer. The drills are to help ensure that the department as a whole is prepared for any calls that come in from the shore.

Laurence Harbor members will change into a water suit on the way to the call and are ready to jump onto a rescue boat and dive into the water if necessary. Members need to be capable of running hoses down from the fire engines on land to the docks to put out the boat fire, as well as able to run the fire pump.

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Navigating Rescues by Boat

Besides the water rescue and fire suppression training, some members need to be trained to operate the actual rescue vehicles. Laurence Harbor has two boats – Marine 1, which is a 23-foot center console boat used for water rescue and fire suppression, and Marine 2, a 16-foot AB boat used for water rescue only.

The department as a whole must be fully prepared for calls that come in from the shore, which means that a certain percentage of members need to be qualified and ready for each task.

“It’s a totally different aspect of fire service,” Stitzel said. “There’s various weather factors to worry about.”

The weather — hot, cold, windy — and water conditions such as current and water temperature can all effect navigation during rescues.

Other factors of a rescue or fire suppression are the amount of people who need to be rescued as well as the other boats that may be nearby.

The department recently received a call for a boat taking on water — the boat was having engine difficulties — 10 people were on a boat regulated for no more than five people. The call came in at night, which affected the ability to see while navigating to the boat. Fortunately, with the help of other nearby teams in the surrounding area, everybody was brought to safety and there were no injuries or casualties.

Fighting Forest Fires

Another unique aspect of being a Laurence Harbor firefighter is fighting forest fires. Unlike water rescues, forest fires are most prevalent in the spring and the fall, though Stitzel said this summer has been an exception because of a lack of rain.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service holds a hands-on training course every year for new firefighters that is dedicated to preventing a brush or forest fire from expanding. Firefighters are trained on how to eliminate any potential items that would fuel a fire, such as dead leaves, pine needles, grass clippings or branches. These items are all forest fuels and result in a bigger, stronger fire.

There’s also a course dedicated to providing structural protection to buildings or homes that are in the vicinity of an active wildfire.

Situational Awareness Saves Lives

The general public can help out by always being aware of their surroundings. Stitzel says that those who own boats should have the knowledge and ability to operate their boat, and also pay attention to regulations (such as weight limit or boat capacity).

“Always be aware of your surroundings and be careful. Don’t operate a boat unless you are trained to do so,” said Stitzel.

And when it comes to fireworks, the chief says to leave it to the professionals. There are plenty of great firework displays in the area throughout the summer.

The department received a call on the Fourth of July; sparks from illegal fireworks caught brush behind somebody’s home and caught a large amount of dead leaves that were dumped. Fortunately, no houses caught fire, but it very well could have been worse.

“Dropping grass clippings, leaves and branches in your backyard is stacking additional fuel. If there’s a fire, there is more of a chance that it will get bigger and expand,” Stitzel explained.

A Call for Volunteers

Laurence Harbor Fire Department is seeking motivated individuals to join as volunteer firefighters. Volunteers can expect to participate in training sessions and contribute to administrative duties across the department. Visit www.lhfd1.com- to learn more and complete an inquiry form. “We offer the best training for any emergency, and we look forward to welcoming new volunteers to the department,” Stitzel said.

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