WHITING According to officials, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) received assistance from a specialized brush unit from the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company on Sunday night in fighting a number of brush fires on the east side of the ASARCO (Heritage Minerals) site.
around the request of NJFFS, Whiting Fire’s Brush Unit 3319, a 2.5-ton military surplus truck built for off-road wildland firefighting, was sent out around 7:30 p.m. on July 6. The unit joined Stations 32 and 34, which were nearby, in their continuous suppression campaign.
According to fire officials, Brush 3319, which was constructed as part of the NJFFS Co-Op program, is an essential tool for responding to brush fires throughout the region since it offers both enhanced water capacity and high mobility over hard terrain.
For several hours, the Whiting team stayed on the scene to assist with suppression efforts as NJFFS investigators started looking into what caused the fires.
The public was reminded by authorities that the ASARCO facility is private property and is not open to the public. As responders observed during this incident, unauthorized entrance not only amounts to trespassing but also presents safety hazards and can impede emergency response operations.
According to a statement from the department, Whiting Fire is still pleased to assist with interagency efforts and is prepared to send out specialist personnel whenever and wherever they are required.
