Carteret, NJ – Mayor Reiman joined with Fire Commissioner Randy Krum today to announce that the Carteret Fire Department has expanded its services, and make permanent a pilot program to help residents with automotive lockouts. Residents who are locked out of their vehicles may now request assistance from the Fire Department at no charge.
“We are constantly trying to expand and improve the ways we offer our public services to residents,” Mayor Reiman said. “If we have a department that’s capable of performing an additional service that won’t conflict with their primary functions, and doesn’t cost additional dollars, we feel its worth it.”
The Carteret Fire Department has acquired auto industry tools that enable them to gain entry to locked vehicles quickly and without causing damage. The tools were donated by the Carteret Business Partnership.
According to Fire Commissioner Krum, the Fire Department has responded to incidents in the past where entry either had to be gained by the car owner, likely causing damage with or without success, or via a costly private service. More urgent reports often involved infants being locked in the vehicle, or the vehicle being inadvertently locked with the engine running.
“The inspiration for starting this program came about because of the interest and concern of one of our firefighters,” Fire Chief Brian O’Connor stated, “who had witnessed several incidents involving people being locked out of their personal vehicles and his observations of what limited options they had to gain access to them.”
“Our firefighters have received training and will now be able to provide fast and convenient service for this common occurrence, and at no cost to our residents” Mayor Reiman added.
