Pennington Fire to Temporarily Use Former First Aid Squad Building

Pennington council members approved the Pennington Fire District's temporary use of the former Pennington First Aid Squad (PFAS) building.

Council President Catherine Chandler, Councilwoman Kati Angarone, Councilwoman Deborah Gnatt, Councilwoman Nadine Stern and Councilman John Valenza voted “yes” to approve the resolution authorizing temporary use of the building by Fire District No. 1 from Pennington on May 6.

Councilor Charles Marciante abstained from the vote.

“We took out the costs and everything else,” Council President Catherine Chandler said. “We obviously want to make sure [as to] liability, we are covered.

Borough Administrator Gian-Paolo Caminiti confirmed that Pennington was covered for liability in the use and occupancy agreement drafted by borough attorney Walter Bliss.

The fire district uses part of the PFAS building located at 110 Broemel Place in Pennington. They will have a temporary use of the building while Pennington Council continues to decide future permanent uses of the building.

According to the resolution, Pennington's temporary use of the building is six months. However, Pennington may terminate the Agreement at any time during this period with 30 days' notice.

The fire district is not charged a rental fee in the agreement, which also states that Pennington will not be held responsible for the fire district's use.

The fire zone is limited to the exclusive use of two bunk rooms in the building.

PFAS had stopped responding to emergency calls in 2022 due to lack of volunteers and officially closed its doors in March 2023 after responding to its last official call – a call for mutual aid.

“This decision is not unique, as many volunteer first responders throughout New Jersey have had to make similar decisions,” PFAS members previously said. “Despite ongoing membership drives, PFAS has suffered a steady decline in the number of volunteer paramedics over the past seven to eight years. »

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this loss.

“Many senior members have aged,” they said. “Young middle and high school members have been a vital support, but most left after their school years ended or took paid jobs in EMS (emergency medical services). The volunteers in the age group of 25 to 60 who have stayed and become officers and high-level responders are few in number, and since 2018, none. »

Once PFAS vacated the building, the building was then turned over to Pennington.

The ambulances and equipment were donated to local volunteer first aid teams, fire companies and Mercer County Community College EMT training, according to the PFAS website.

The Hopewell Valley Historical Society has the records of the first responder team in an effort to preserve the history of PFAS, which closed after nearly 70 years of service to the community.