Cape May Point Asks Cape May Not to Respond to Fire Calls

CAPE MAY POINT — The borough has asked that Cape May Fire Department not respond to its fires on an all-call basis except in the case of a structure fire or extreme situation.
Cape May Point Mayor Carl Schupp told the Herald the borough has reverted to a prior agreement, which depended up West Cape May Fire Company for back up. He said Cape May Point wanted EMTs from Cape May for all calls.
Schupp said unless there is an unusual situation, the borough did not need Cape May Fire Department to respond. He said the Point has two pieces of fire apparatus as does West Cape May Fire Company.
Schupp said there has only been on situation in the last eight to 10 years that required more equipment than the Point’s and West Cape May. Previously, all three fire companies responded to an alarm in Cape May Point.
“It most cases it’s overkill,” said Schupp. “If we have something very serious, we are going to call on Cape May.”
He said under other circumstances, there was no need for additional fire engines “charging down Sunset Boulevard.”
In April, Cape May Fire Chief Jerry Inderwies Jr. sent a letter to West Cape May Public Safety Commissioner Ramsey Geyer notifying the borough as of April 1, 2010, Cape May will no longer utilize the services of the West Cape May Fire Company.
In the letter, Inderwies said “it all comes down to one thing: “safety.” He said while Cape May has offered their training and assistance to West Cape Fire Company, it has not accepted it.
Schupp said the decision not to use Cape May Fire Department had nothing to do with the severing of the relationship between Cape May and West Cape May.
“It was not done in retaliation, we are not part of that dispute,” he said.