The Newark Fire Division and local utility provider PSE&G announced that 14 firehouses across the city’s five wards will receive energy-efficiency upgrades, saving Newark nearly $50,000 a year in utility costs.

Some of those firehouses are more than a century old, and the plan focuses on eliminating exhaust problems that have allegedly made firefighters sick in the past, according to TAPinto Newark.  

“Anything that we can do to upgrade these firehouses is always a heaven-sent to us,” said Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

Over 18 months, through PSE&G’s Direct Install Program, the city replaced aging boilers and lighting, added pipe insulation and installed fuel economizers. The department also added exterior lighting behind stations that were never lit, improving safety on late-night calls.

“We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” said Newark Deputy Fire Chief James Lyones. “Our members know what it means to come in from the cold during the winter months after responding to emergencies and serving our residents. Having reliable hot water, improved lighting, and a more comfortable environment makes a real difference.”

The $4.5 million project is expected to cut energy use by more than 225,000 kWh of electricity and about 24,000 therms of natural gas annually, while PSE&G covered nearly 17 percent of the costs.

“The value goes well beyond energy savings,” said PSE&G Director of Energy Services Rachael Fredericks. “These improvements help us manage costs, improve buildings and support our communities. They're not just places where fire trucks are kept; they're places where firefighters live, work, train, and recover between these important calls.”

Full surveys of equipment, lighting, HVAC, and heating systems were conducted to identify the firehouses' needs. The LED lighting upgrade will increase maintenance savings.

Last year, a city councilman highlighted the aging firehouses, reporting that some firefighters went home with nosebleeds and headaches because of firehouse exhaust issues.

Fire Chief Del Ortiz said the improvements and cost savings from the Direct Install Program will let the department invest in other needs, like protective gear, safety equipment, apparatus and training.

“We will always welcome opportunities to partner with organizations committed to making our firefighters’ working conditions safer and their quality of life better,” Newark Fire Union Vice President Eddie Paulo said. “Our firehouses are our second homes, and these improvements make a real difference for the firefighters who serve Newark every day.”

Only two Newark firehouses did not receive upgrades, and PSE&G officials said that discussions are underway for more improvements, but no projects have been confirmed.