Woodbridge Council votes to dissolve historic Keasbey Fire Department
The Woodbridge Township Council approved a measure to close the 118-year-old Keasbey Fire Department and merge it with Fords Fire Company, citing safety concerns.
Woodbridge Township Council approved an 8-1 resolution on Aug. 12 to dissolve the Keasbey Fire Department, a fire district founded in 1908, and combine it with neighboring Fords Fire Company. Mayor John McCormac argued that the existing staffing levels left Keasbey residents unsafe and that the merger would improve response times, referencing a 2026 state report that recommended consolidation. The eight full-time firefighters will keep their jobs and be reassigned within the township, alongside volunteer personnel.
Council members secured unanimous approval from the New Jersey Local Finance Board for the ordinance. Opposition surfaced in a petition with 1,452 signatures, contesting the mayor’s claims about call volume and alleging secret negotiations. The former firehouse will now be owned by the Fords district, which will decide its future sale.
Why it matters
The closure reshapes local emergency services and affects taxes for residents of Woodbridge.
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