Post by Freehold Resident on Jul 6, 2006 15:30:32 GMT -5
You can't know a nicer guy that cares so much about his town...
Maushardt now at helm of Freehold Fire Dept.
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
William Maushardt was recently elected to serve as chief of the Freehold Fire Department, Freehold Borough.
FREEHOLD - William Maushardt was welcomed as the Freehold Fire Department's new chief at a Borough Council meeting on June 5.
Leadership in the fire department changes every two years, and Charles Megill was thanked for his service during the previous two years.
Maushardt, 60, a former borough councilman, was sworn in by Borough Clerk Linda Cottrell in the presence of his wife, Linda; council President Sharon Shutzer, who serves as fire commissioner; and Councilman Michael DiBene-detto, who serves as assistant fire commissioner.
Maushardt, who worked for years for Wachovia Bank, started his firefighting career as young man when his parents moved to New Jersey from the Bronx, N.Y., and settled in Hazlet. Maushardt said he was looking for a way to make friends and someone suggested that he join the fire department.
As things turned out, when he joined the Hazlet Fire Department, the first person he met was William Dehmer, the man who would eventually become his father-in-law. He said Dehmer more or
less took him under his wing. He eventually met Linda at events held by the fire department.
Maushardt stayed with the Hazlet Fire Department for four years. He and Linda married and moved to Freehold, where they raised Christine, 35, Karen, 30, and Kevin, 24 at the time of his death two years ago of bacterial meningitis. Kevin was a captain with the Freehold Fire Department at the time of his death.
Maushardt has been with the Freehold Fire Department's Good Will Hook and Ladder Company for 36 years. He worked his way up the ranks over the years and was elected second assistant chief in 2002-04. He was elected first assistant chief from 2004-06. His term as chief will carry him through to 2008.
In looking back over his years of service, Maushardt recalled the training he received at the Monmouth County Fire College, Matawan.
"The training is much more intense today," he said. "We actually received a lot of our training on the job. Firefighters today are much more prepared."
Today, the Monmouth County Fire Academy is in Howell. Firefighters need to acquire 152 hours of training, compared with 90 hours years ago. Training today includes blood-borne pathogens, something Maushardt never needed to be trained in years ago.
"They are not just trained to fight fires today. They also have training in anti-terrorism, including training to be prepared for weapons of mass destruction," he explained, noting that change came about after the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The commitment Maushardt has made to the Freehold Fire Department appears to have carried over to his grandsons, Kenny Maushardt, 15, and Zachary Mickendrow, 9. Maushardt said Kenny already serves with the Manchester Fire Department as a junior firefighter and Zachary is waiting for the day when he is old enough to join, too.
Maushardt is the 61st chief of the Freehold Fire Department, and he said he is glad to be a part of the tradition. He said his job will be "to serve and protect residents and properties in the borough and to assure that firefighters receive the proper equipment, education and up-to-date equipment and gear to be able to do that job."
Other fire officials sworn in at the council meeting were Jack Reichman, who was elected first assistant chief, and Ryan C. Bailey, who was elected second assistant chief.
Maushardt now at helm of Freehold Fire Dept.
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
William Maushardt was recently elected to serve as chief of the Freehold Fire Department, Freehold Borough.
FREEHOLD - William Maushardt was welcomed as the Freehold Fire Department's new chief at a Borough Council meeting on June 5.
Leadership in the fire department changes every two years, and Charles Megill was thanked for his service during the previous two years.
Maushardt, 60, a former borough councilman, was sworn in by Borough Clerk Linda Cottrell in the presence of his wife, Linda; council President Sharon Shutzer, who serves as fire commissioner; and Councilman Michael DiBene-detto, who serves as assistant fire commissioner.
Maushardt, who worked for years for Wachovia Bank, started his firefighting career as young man when his parents moved to New Jersey from the Bronx, N.Y., and settled in Hazlet. Maushardt said he was looking for a way to make friends and someone suggested that he join the fire department.
As things turned out, when he joined the Hazlet Fire Department, the first person he met was William Dehmer, the man who would eventually become his father-in-law. He said Dehmer more or
less took him under his wing. He eventually met Linda at events held by the fire department.
Maushardt stayed with the Hazlet Fire Department for four years. He and Linda married and moved to Freehold, where they raised Christine, 35, Karen, 30, and Kevin, 24 at the time of his death two years ago of bacterial meningitis. Kevin was a captain with the Freehold Fire Department at the time of his death.
Maushardt has been with the Freehold Fire Department's Good Will Hook and Ladder Company for 36 years. He worked his way up the ranks over the years and was elected second assistant chief in 2002-04. He was elected first assistant chief from 2004-06. His term as chief will carry him through to 2008.
In looking back over his years of service, Maushardt recalled the training he received at the Monmouth County Fire College, Matawan.
"The training is much more intense today," he said. "We actually received a lot of our training on the job. Firefighters today are much more prepared."
Today, the Monmouth County Fire Academy is in Howell. Firefighters need to acquire 152 hours of training, compared with 90 hours years ago. Training today includes blood-borne pathogens, something Maushardt never needed to be trained in years ago.
"They are not just trained to fight fires today. They also have training in anti-terrorism, including training to be prepared for weapons of mass destruction," he explained, noting that change came about after the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The commitment Maushardt has made to the Freehold Fire Department appears to have carried over to his grandsons, Kenny Maushardt, 15, and Zachary Mickendrow, 9. Maushardt said Kenny already serves with the Manchester Fire Department as a junior firefighter and Zachary is waiting for the day when he is old enough to join, too.
Maushardt is the 61st chief of the Freehold Fire Department, and he said he is glad to be a part of the tradition. He said his job will be "to serve and protect residents and properties in the borough and to assure that firefighters receive the proper equipment, education and up-to-date equipment and gear to be able to do that job."
Other fire officials sworn in at the council meeting were Jack Reichman, who was elected first assistant chief, and Ryan C. Bailey, who was elected second assistant chief.