The Keasbey Fire Department, a fixture in Woodbridge, New Jersey, for 118 years, has been dissolved following a vote by the Woodbridge Township Council. The decision, made on August 12, 2026, will merge the historic department with the neighboring Fords Fire Company. Mayor John McCormac stated that the closure was a matter of public safety, citing concerns about insufficient staffing and the department's ability to respond to emergencies within mandated timeframes.
"We stressed that Keasbey residents were not currently safe with the situation that exists and that not having proper firefighter response to a structure fire was in fact an emergency," McCormac said during the council meeting. He asserted that the move was not financially driven but centered on ensuring resident safety. The council's decision was approved by the NJ Local Finance Board in a unanimous 7-0 vote. McCormac also noted that the state issued a report in 2026 recommending the merger, following concerns raised by the township dating back to 2021. He pointed to Keasbey having the largest fire district taxes in Woodbridge despite being the smallest district with the fewest calls. The mayor projected that the merger would result in property tax savings, with the average homeowner in the Fords district potentially seeing a $1,000 annual decrease in fire district taxes compared to Keasbey.
Officials from the Keasbey Fire Department disputed claims about their call volume, stating they responded to an average of 16 calls per month over the past year, with 10 calls in the week prior to the dissolution vote. A petition opposing the merger, which garnered 1,452 signatures, highlighted the department's long history of service since its formation in 1908. The petition stated, "For more than 118 years, the Keasbey Fire Department has faithfully protected the residents, businesses, industries, and visitors of the Keasbey community."
Keasbey Fire Chief John Manna accused township officials of conducting private negotiations and failing to provide the department with adequate explanations or a clear process regarding the dissolution. However, Mayor McCormac denied these allegations.
According to fire district attorney Howard Pashman, the dissolution may be linked to surrounding property acquisitions by a developer, with the firehouse being the last remaining structure in the area. Fords Fire District is now the title owner of the former Keasbey Firehouse and will determine its future. The eight paid firefighters from Keasbey will retain their jobs within the township, and volunteer firefighters will also be offered positions elsewhere. The Keasbey Fire Department was originally established as Protection Fire Company No. 1 after a fire at the Ostrander Fire Brick Company highlighted the lack of a proper fire district in the area. The department's historical records indicate its formation on June 1, 1908.