A large-scale crisis was narrowly averted Thursday night in Lakewood thanks to the tireless efforts of several local officials, as well as several community Askanim.

Just before 7:30 on Thursday evening, the Ocean County Fire Marshal and Lakewood Buildings Inspector were called to a multi-family apartment building in Lakewood which had its power cut.

Due to some sort of misunderstanding between several tenants and Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), which supplies power to the building, the power to the common areas was shut down – including the electric supply for the buildings fire alarms and sprinkler systems – making the entire building deemed unsafe for living.

Chaveirim, along with Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein were both on the scene immediately and began arranging for generators to be brought over to make sure those systems would stay online, so the 40 plus families who live in the building would be able to stay overnight.

While Chaveirim was arranging the generators, several JCP&L representatives arrived and, following a discussion with Committeeman Lichtenstein and the Fire Marshall’s, they were able to reach a resolution which allowed the power to be restored for the time being, preventing over 40 families – many of whom were in middle of Shabbos preparations – to stay in their apartments.

“The cooperation of the many groups and individuals who put everything aside is yet another example of what makes this town so special,” Meir Lichtenstein told TLS.”

“Notably, I want to thank the Lakewood Police Department, Lakewood Building Department, JCP&L, Chaveirim and the Fire Marshall’s Office for working together in order to reach the positive resolution we achieved tonight – preventing more than 40 families from being forced to evacuate their homes,” he added.