At its December 13 meeting, the South Orange Board of Trustees swore in Fire Captain David Klugel as provisional Deputy Chief of the South Orange Fire Department.
According to South Orange Village officials, the provisional promotion was made due to the pending merger of the South Orange Fire Department and the Maplewood Fire Department, to be known as the South Mountain Regional Fire Department.
“However, the Village acknowledges the vacancy persists until the merger is complete and it was in our community’s best interest to have a formal supervisor in that role during this transitional time,” read an email from South Orange Village.
Klugel, a ten-year veteran of the South Orange Fire Department, was lauded at his swearing-in ceremony by both Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan and Village President Sheena Collum.
South Orange Provisional Deputy Fire Chief David Klugel
The South Orange Fire Department and FMBA Locals 40 and 240 issued a press release congratulating Deputy Chief Klugel on his promotion, stating in part, “The South Orange Fire Department is very proud to congratulate Fire Capt. David Klugel on his promotion to Deputy Fire Chief. Deputy Chief Klugel grew up in South Orange and was appointed as firefighter by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission exam in September, 2011. In November of 2017, he was promoted to Fire Captain by the NJCSC competitive exam and earned a NJ Fire Inspector license and certification in March, 2018. The South Orange Fire Department and the people of South Orange are extremely fortunate to have a professional firefighter with Deputy Chief Klugel’s experience, training and credentials in this important leadership role.”
The releasee from the SOFD and FMBAs, which was sent by The BGill Group, thanked Village officials and called the promotion “long-overdue appointment” while pointing to crises such as “extreme weather and climate change, extensive redevelopment that will increase the number of high-density structures and the Covid-19 pandemic, among other challenges.”
Village President Sheena Collum swears in provisional Deputy Fire Chief David Klugel, December 13, 2021.
The release also referred to “various plans to establish a joint department with Maplewood, and essentially disband the SOFD, [that] have been explored” and expressed hope that Klugel’s appointment “signals renewed support and commitment to the SOFD and to the safety of South Orange.”
However, the formation of a joint Maplewood and South Orange regional fire department appears to have moved beyond the planning phase.
Officials from both towns report that both governing bodies will be appointing members to the Joint Meeting — or Regional Service Agency — at its next meting in December, as well as recommending a third member. The RSA anticipates adopting a contract between the towns in January 2022.
“As mentioned previously, our expected timeline is July 1, 2022 and our administrative team has been working with the state on the necessary steps to complete the merger,” read an email endorsed by officials of both towns.
