When Montclair responded to their first active fire in Glen Ridge 21 years ago, at the inauguration of their inter-local fire service agreement between the two neighboring towns, the fire department suffered a tragedy. At the scene, Montclair Fire Captain Frank Quadrel died after having a heart attack.

Now, 21 years later, after enduring a lengthy and often times emotional period of negotiations to keep their inter-local fire service intact with Glen Ridge, the two towns happily singed an agreement that will officially launch a new 10-year fire contract. (Click here for details and previous article.)

Montclair Fire Chief and Office of Emergency Management director Kevin Allen said he was happy that Glen Ridge decided to re-sign with Montclair.

“We are all very happy about this,” he noted. “Our fire fighters have done a great job in Glen Ridge, and we know the people there are very appreciative.”

Speaking to numerous fire fighters at the scene of the symbolic signing of the contract by both Montclair Mayor Jerry Fried and Glen Ridge Mayor Peter Hughes, the reaction was bittersweet: happiness tinged with a large dose of sadness, in memory of their fallen fellow fire fighter. Though many of the fire fighters are too young to know Quadrel, each of them knew details of his dedication, work ethic and volunteerism as a fire captain.

Now, the legacy of these two towns is expected to grow once again. Both Councilor-at-Large Roger Terry and Fourth Ward Councilor Dr. Renee Baskerville said, in separate interviews, that they expect to introduce even more shared service agreements between the two neighbors.

Terry said, “We look forward to doing much more.”

Both Mayors agreed, and Fried said he was happy to see that under the current council and mayor a new 10-year contract would be put in place for the fire department.

Now, with a new sweetened deal in place, where Montclair offered discounts to Glen Ridge due to the stiff competition from another town, Bloomfield, who also wanted the fire service contract, the business of protecting homeowners, businesses and properties from the ravages of fire can continue.

When the idea of sharing the fire department with Montclair was first raised in Glen Ridge about 21 years ago, many residents were against closing down the in-borough fire house to sign up with Montclair. After weeks of public debate, and emotional arguments for both sides, the borough decided to become part of history: as members of the first -and still only - inter-local service agreement between two towns for fire services.
Then, just as now, the public debate raged but the outcome was the same: Montclair and Glen Ridge would be linked in this life saving capacity.

As one fire fighter said today, the new contract was important: as a symbol of a life lost so many years ago, and as the strong closure only a memory, confirmed in public between two towns, can provide those who serve and protect the public: the fire fighters.