Thanks to all who helped SCMUA

To the Editor: On Wednesday, Aug. 17, the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority experienced a fire at its Bulky Waste and Recycled Materials Building. The fire was contained mainly to the mixed paper fiber and commingled recyclables that were stored at the facility. The SCMUA would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the numerous emergency personnel whose quick response resulted in controlling the blaze, and ensuring the safety of the staff and public, with minimal building damage. Approximately seventy-five firefighters and forty emergency personnel responded from a number of Sussex County agencies including Lafayette, Hampton, Frankford, Branchville, Andover, Hardyston, Green, Fredon, Byram, McAfee, Stillwater, Sandyston, Vernon and Sparta. Morris County responders included Mendham, Morris Township, Parsippany/Troy Hills, Boonton, Whippany, Rockaway, Parsippany, Picatinny Arsenal and Riverdale. Many county and state agencies were also on the scene, including Sussex County and Lafayette Office of Emergency Management, County Sheriff, County Prosecutor, NJDEP and Sussex County HazMat, and New Jersey State Police and numerous area Rescue Squads. It took six hours to control the blaze and extinguish the fire completely. Thankfully, there were only three fire-related injuries; two firefighters dealing with heat exhaustion, and one requiring stitches for a laceration to his hand. We wish them a speedy recovery. The SCMUA would like to thank all the firefighters and emergency responders who acted unselfishly in combating the fire and safeguarding the community. It was impressive to witness the coordination and cooperation of so many agencies in a mutual response situation. It would also be appropriate to thank and acknowledge the SCMUA staff who assisted in the firefighting effort and massive cleanup afterward. With their efforts we were able to reopen the Bulky Waste and Recycled Materials Building within 24 hours. Thank you one and all for a job well done. John Hatzelis Wayne Dietz Adminstrator SCMUA Chairman