The Maplewood Fire Department is honing its skills this week, courtesy of the developer of a new 235-unit apartment complex at the former PSE&G site at Boyden Avenue and Springfield Avenue.
A corporation formed by Avalon Bay to develop the site — Maplewood Urban Renewal LLC — closed on the property in May, with plans to demolish the existing structure this fall. It is not certain yet if construction will begin this year or next. (Read about Maplewood Planning Board approval for the site plan here; read about the Township Committee’s approval of the redevelopment and financial agreements for the project here. Read about Avalon Bay’s assurance of fire safety precautions for the new building here.)
In the meantime, Maplewood firefighters are benefitting from Avalon Bay’s largesse. Although smoke training didn’t work out (office walls had been removed during asbestos abatement), the firefighters were able to practice using the saw in various situations.
Maplewood Fire Chief Michael Dingelstedt said that the department has several new firefighters and that the availability of the building was a great opportunity to perform additional training.
Click on any photo below to see a gallery of images from photographer Joy Yagid.
