In order to carry out its fire suppression
mission, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service maintains
a fleet of 273 vehicles, 23 dozer-with-plow units, 164
pieces of specialized equipment and 6 aircraft for a
total fleet of 460. The maintenance of Forest Fire service
equipment is conducted at divisional shops in Franklin,
New Lisbon and Mays Landing.
![fire truck]()
The
service constructs all of its own initial attack fire
suppression vehicles. Starting with a truck cab
and chassis, utility body, and 250-gallon tank; plumbing,
special reinforcing and emergency equipment are added
to complete the job. This is accomplished at a savings
of approximately $40,000 per unit, which is the difference
between what the unit cost the service to construct
as opposed to what it would cost to purchase one commercially.
The NJ Forest Fire Service also participates
in the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program.
This is a program whereby the United States Forest Service
makes available vehicles and equipment deemed surplus
on loan to state and volunteer organizations for the
purpose of rural and wildland fire protection. This
equipment includes, but is not limited to, such things
as fire hose, portable pumps, generators, and surplus
vehicles from pick-up trucks to military cargo trucks,
heavy equipment and aircraft.
![truck]()
Much
of this equipment requires modification to be useful
in wildland fire suppression, and much of this conversion
is accomplished at the Forest Fire Equipment Research
and Development facility, presently located in Mays
Landing. The mission of the R&D shop is to support
and further the ability of the Forest Fire Service to
fulfill its mission of protecting the lives and property
of the residents of New Jersey.
