Woodbridge Twp. Will Be Closing Keasbey Firehouse

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — At their Aug. 12 meeting, the Woodbridge town council unanimously voted to close the Keasbey firehouse, which has stood on Smith Street for the past 118 years, since 1908.

The next step is the Keasbey firehouse will be torn down and a new warehouse will be built where it stands.

Fords Fire Company will take over providing fire-fighting services for the Keasbey section of Woodbridge.

There were eight paid firefighters stationed at Keasbey and five of them will be transferred to the Fords Fire Company. The other three firefighters will get to keep their jobs, but Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac did not say at the Aug. 12 meeting where those three will be transferred to.

The Council's decision on Aug. 12 dissolves the volunteer firefighters at Keasbey entirely.

The move will decrease fire district taxes for Keasbey taxpayers by about $1,000 next year. Keasbey has the highest fire taxes in Woodbridge Township, and the fewest number of fire calls, said the mayor.

"Fords can absorb Keasbey without raising taxes," said McCormac.

This will essentially be a merger between the Fords and Keasbey fire companies, Woodbridge Twp. previously said. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said it has been "concerned" about the Keasbey firehouse since 2021.

Membership at the Keasbey firehouse is very low and the firehouse had to supplement with paid firefighters in recent years.

The Keasbey firehouse also witnessed a reduced call volume in recent years, according to the Township. They respond to about 10-12 calls per month, the fewest number of fire calls in Woodbridge Twp.

The Keasbey fire district tried to fight the town's attempts to close the firehouse. The firehouse hired its own lawyer, who in July urged the Woodbridge town council not to close the house.

Prior: Woodbridge Seeks To Close Keasbey Firehouse (July 17)

Watch the Aug. 12 special council meeting where the council voted to close Keasbey firehouse: