Manchester School District's Speedy Shelter Response During Lacey Fire Honored By Mayor

MANCHESTER, NJ — As a 15,300-acre wildfire raged in Ocean County on April 22, threatening homes and prompting evacuations, Manchester Township jumped into action to help.

That included the Manchester Township School District, which mobilized quickly after Manchester Mayor Joseph Hankins called on the district for help during spring break.

Hankins presented a proclamation to the district at the April 30 school board meeting, praising the district's response to help its neighbors in Lacey Township, where 5,000 people evacuated at the height of the fire threat.

Hankins said the Lacey Township emergency management director contacted Manchester's emergency management director seeking help with the evacuations.

"It was a monumental task," Hankins said. "We had just gone through a similar event the year before."

"That in and of itself is stressful but not knowing where you can send people is another," he said.

Township officials contacted the school district "and within minutes you had the school open and we had the Red Cross in there and the CERT team, the community emergency response team, building beds and you know it was amazing to see," Hankins said.

The buildings and grounds department staff opened Manchester Township High School, which provided space for dozens of Lacey residents and their pets overnight into April 23.

"I am incredibly proud and grateful for how our Manchester community rose to meet this moment," Superintendent Diane Pedroza said. "I want to sincerely thank our entire community — our staff, first responders and local residents — for their compassion, their generosity and their resilience that they demonstrated in supporting those that have had to evacuate.

"Opening our doors to shelter others reflects the very heart of who we are as a district and who we are as a community," she said.

"The strength of a community lies not only in its infrastructure and institutions but in the compassion, cooperation and dedication to all it serves," the proclamation reads in part. "The Manchester Board of Education continuously demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our community, going above and beyond their educational mission to serve the greater needs of the residents ..."

"In times of emergency and great uncertainty the board of education has consistently generously opened the doors of the Manchester High School as a shelter and evacuation center not only for the residents of Manchester Township but for our neighbors in the surrounding towns ...

"Their willingness to provide the safe comfort haven for individuals and families along with their beloved pets has brought a peace of mind during some of the most stressful moments," the proclamation said in part.

"This selfless partnership has served as a shining example of unity and power and collaboration," Hankins read. "Your compassion, responsiveness and steadfast support are not only appreciated they are treasured. Our partnership is a source of strength in our entire township and we are forever grateful to the job you do."