Fri, 02/27/2009 - 3:21pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To answer the question why there are no hydrants in rural areas its simple we all depend on well water. We have no public water, for the towns to put in individual wells to run the hydrants would be a financial burden to the towns and tax payers. Think about it even a hydrant every mile would cost millions per town. You would still have to depend on tankers because hydrants every block couldnt be afforded. Water was not a problem at this fire there, we had 10000 + gallons there within minutes. Yes the lake was 2 miles away but not once did we run out of water. The crews at this fire are experts in drafting shuttling and conserving water when need be. If all you folks want hydrants in these rural areas , we gladly take donations and will be more then happy to put wells and hydrants in at your expense. It would be nice to see one story on a fire where us fire personel dont get bashed and questioned. The herald really does need to have people sign names to comments. I will !!!! Great job by all that were there and all the help that you gave !!!!! Aaron Aprill Dennis Volunteer Fire Station 18

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 8:13pm - Posted by: Anonymous

There is one very important lesson to be learned from this incident do not try to put the fire out on your own. Call 911 as soon as you see a problem, 5 minutes can make all the diferance in the world. Great work guys you are all real heroes.

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 6:08pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Hey 2/21/09 @ 10:28 - No body is questioning any of the decisions made at the call. What these comments are about is the fact that most don't understand why hydrants are not available in rural areas. Before you throw yourself on the cross for someone, understand what is going on! Now stop reading and go back to work

Mon, 02/23/2009 - 10:26am - Posted by: Anonymous

Why is it that after every structure fire, an article is posted, and all the comments must be so negative. All these firefighters try their absolute hardest to do the best they can and we cant just appreciate them, but instead to knit pick at every mistake of them, the township or the dispatchers. Mistakes happen, as in this case where hydrants are placed by the township, or if someone is injured, they simply happen. Get over yourselves and begin to look at the bigger picture and appreciating people that go out of their way to save something and help, where as others sit around and do nothing.

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 10:34pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To say we should have hydrants in this area is alittle far fetched.... Instead of grilling us on how we dont have an infinite water supply you should be shaking everyones hands on the hard work to have an uninterupted flow of water for hours. To not have to shut down operations once due to water loss consitering the closest water supply was 2 to 3 miles away. That is a good co-op between many fire companies across diffrent townships and diffrent counties. Yes, hydratants would be nice, and yes hydrants would be easier. But in the fire service you must adapt and evolve to over come all tasks. How about telling everyone that was there "good job" overcoming the cold weather,and ice. Hard work and being away from our families at all hours of the night, asking nothing in return. Give up our time, blood, and sweat for help anytime the tones are sounded and the siren rings. So in summary instead of asking why theres no hydrant ask us how we do it cause we have to bring out own water. Good job to all that were there and to all that helped. All the fire companies, Belleplain Rescue, Salvation Army, and the DOT. Please dont judge us cause we just have to work alittle harder and have alittle better working realtionship with our neighboring fire companies. Anyday you want to learn to drop a draft and make your own hydrant come down to the sticks!!!

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 6:07pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Those firemen work hard and put their lives on the line for no pay. They risk it for to save us. Great job guys & girls.

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 10:28am - Posted by: Anonymous

I was a firefighter on this call everyone says you should have done this or done that the bottom line is DJ you did a great job running the fire last night we got the fire out and all the firefighters went home to their family so just be happy it all work out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 9:44am - Posted by: Anonymous

Are your taxes too low? Running water lines for a few houses makes no sense. When a fire does occur your fire departments are very good at working together to bring water to the scene. Water is very rarely a problem. But if you want to fund water lines with your taxes, you might call the governor and offer.

Thanks to all the responders!

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 9:36am - Posted by: Anonymous

For the comment above this is called rural firefighting just in case you don't understand. The above commenter must be from the city where all the luxuries are available. The hydrants in this area and many alike are called TANKERS. Maybe you should get out of the city and join a rural fire department you may learn something. Thank You Firefighters.

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 7:26am - Posted by: Anonymous

2:06 AM - look at the map, it's a farmhouse out in the middle of nowhere, hence no fire hydrants.

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 5:18am - Posted by: Anonymous

2/21/09 2:06 -- I am a firefighter in a neighboring county. There are no hydrants in rural areas because you need city water to have hydrants. You cannot make it manditory to install hydrants because the infrastructure of water mains and pumping stations simply do not exist. Plus, from a financial stand point, who is going to pay for this, especially in a low population rural area? The firefighters in rural areas are used to this situation, are well trained to deal with the situation, and overcome it by using tanker trucks and outfitting their fire engines with larger water tanks. This scenario is not "idiotic," it is simply a different type of infrastructure. For a reference, a majority of Atlantic, Cumberland, and Salem Counties have no hydrants, including parts of Vineland and Millville. That just comes from living in a rural area. Also, perspective home buyers are made aware of the situation when they are purchasing or renting a property. And there is no state or national "code" that says hydrants are manditory.

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 3:15am - Posted by: bknoll

There aren't water lines in dennis township... I'm sure you're from a city, or an island. These areas don't have hydrants because a hydrant without a water line is useless. Water was brought in just as quick via the surrounding fire companies.

Sat, 02/21/2009 - 2:06am - Posted by: Anonymous

why aren't fire hydrants made accessible to certain areas? shouldn't these rural areas be mandatory to access just for these reasons? thank god no one was injured.

it seems that there are communities that are not up to code;there was a house somewheres in lower twp that dealt with this same exact issue several months ago.this just seems idiotic that there aren't any fire hydrants in close proximity of certain areas.

whats it gonna take to supply all communities on a whole with this necessity?