Swift and decisive action by the Lakewood Fire Department on Tuesday prevented a potential shutdown and evacuation at the Lakewood Courtyard nursing home, averting significant disruption and risk to residents.
Fire crews responded to a water flow alarm at the facility, located at 52 Madison Avenue, where they discovered a broken sprinkler pipe that rendered the building’s fire suppression system temporarily inoperable. Under such circumstances, nursing homes are typically left with only two options: evacuate residents to another facility with a functioning suppression system or implement a continuous fire watch staffed by firefighters.
Recognizing the serious implications an evacuation could pose for a vulnerable population, responding units determined that a fire watch would be necessary. Lt. Ortiz promptly contacted Chief Yahr, who quickly arranged for an extended fire watch, allowing residents to safely remain in place while repairs were made.
By opting for a fire watch rather than evacuation, the department avoided what could have become a large-scale emergency. In nearby municipalities, similar sprinkler system failures have recently resulted in full evacuations of healthcare facilities, creating significant logistical challenges and safety concerns.
Lakewood Fire Department units remained on scene for approximately six hours, maintaining the fire watch until the situation was stabilized and the building’s fire protection system was fully restored.
The Lakewood Fire Department credited the coordinated response and thanked its partners, including the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, for their assistance during the incident.
kudos to LFD but as in my many years of experience in commercial real estate, when a fire department puts you on fire watch for whatever reason, the cost is on you not the fire department….. why are we paying for their fire watch ??
Not sure what your question is. Is the LFD required to pay for your fire suppression system or its repairs? Obviously not. So why should they not get paid for their time? They are professionals that are using their profession to keep the facility safe.
I think that’s what he was saying, but he is going on an assumption, as there is no mention of payment – or the lack thereof – in the article.
Why is the fire department volunteer for fire watch? That’s something the owner needs to pay of pocket for.
If you would of been the owner your attitude would of been alittle different, I think you should work on your ahavas yisroel the fact is the fire department deserves a thank you for lifting the burden on its residents and our community
If someone has a fire, do they have to pay to have it put out? That’s one of the functions of the fire department.
I don’t understand, maybe he has to pay, but aren’t firefighters the best ones to do it? Unless they’re own staff can be on standby near fire extinguishers.
Wow!
why is this happening to all nursing homes?
Sounds more like a common sense action to me.
This in incredible! You read on the news all the time about nursing homes being evacuated, and here the Fire Dept stepped up and was on watch preventing what would’ve been a huge response from Hatzolah, EMS, First Aid, and other agencies. There even were some volunteers from the FD that gave up part of their time to assist in the watch when the career staff had to leave. Thank you to all those Fire Dept members; career and volunteer that were there!