Fire Marshal Salutes High School's Safety Efforts

At a time many schools are struggling to keep buildings maintained, Watchung Hills Regional High School took steps to improve the school's fire safety standings.

And the school's recent efforts led to  a hearty "thank you" from Township Committeeman Mal Plager and Fire Marshal Thomas Byrne Jr. at the school's board of education meeting Feb. 7.

"There's a team of poeple here who really need to be acknowledged for what they have done for fire and life safety," Byrne said at the meeting. "We've really reached a milestone and I think Warren Township high school can stand against any school in New Jersey in fire and life safety."

Interviewed Thursday, Byrne said in the last several years, the school board, and Roland Juliano, the school's director of operations, buildings and grounds, have improved several systems that will help emergency responders in the event of a fire or other emergency.

"Some of the buildings there (at the high school) are old, and it's been expanded over the years," Byrne said this week. "Some of it had sprinklers and parts of it didn't."

But thanks to the board's willingness to dedicate the funds needed, and Juliano's planning, Byrne said the building now has sprinklers throughout the campus.

Perhaps more importantly, the school also has newer "addressable" alarm systems, so fire alarms indicate to fire fighters exactly where a fire is—preveiously the system was zoned, only indicating a section of the school.

Also, Byrne said the fire department now has complete plans for the enture school, showing the locations of fire hose connections, entrances and other important information. 

"They've really gone over and above to make it safe," he said.

While the last couple of years have been difficult for the school board's budgeting, Byrne noted the members were committed enough to complete the project to make certain funding was available to finish it.

"To the parents: know that your students are in a school that prioritizes fire and life safety for you, for everyone who walks in this school," Byrne said at the meeting.  

Committeeman Mal Plager noted the project shows the spirit of cooperation between the township and the school.  

"All I can say from the township is thank you—really, just thank you," he said.