Those who battled the massive warehouse blaze in Hillsborough were honored at a "thank you" dinner held on April 2, 2016. Watch video
MANVILLE - Hundreds of firefighters, their families and local and state dignitaries gathered Saturday night at Thomas J. Kavanaugh VFW Post 2290 for a "thank you" dinner honoring their service in battling a Hillsborough warehouse fire for almost two days in February.
The dinner was organized by Derek R. Basista, owner of Charity Events Group.
The blaze at Veterans Industrial Park destroyed two 240,000-square foot buildings initially involved at the four-building warehouse complex. It began on Feb. 11 and continued into Feb. 12. The five-alarm fire drew more than 500 firefighters from 30 different fire companies in five counties, and involved more than 200 emergency vehicles.
Warehouse fire was an inferno from the start
Firefighters worked 10- to 12-hour shifts with anywhere from 50 to 100 firefighters working at any one time to battle the blaze. Six to 10 ladders were operating at the peak of the fire.
Among those invited to speak at the dinner were state Sen. Kip Bateman (R-16th), Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16th), Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16th), Hillsborough Fire District Commissioner Bruce Vatter, Hillsborough Fire District Commissioner John Catrombon, Jr., Hillsborough Fire District Commissioner Patrick Buckley, Hillsborough Fire District Commissioner Charlie Nuara, Hillsborough Fire Marshall Christopher Weniger, Hillsborough Mayor Frank DelCore, Millstone Mayor Raymond Heck and Manville Mayor Richard Onderko.
Hillsborough fire by the numbers
As of Sunday, Charity Events Group, with the help of the community at large, raised a total amount of $6,255 via GoFundMe. The goal was to raise $6,000.
Those who supported the dinner include:
- Ciattarelli, for his sponsorship of the dinnerware for this event.
- Hillsborough ShopRite - $250
- WakeFern (Hillsborough ShopRite Managing Company) - $500
- Nancy Schaefer from Missing In America, for all her hard work and dedication in the planning of the dinner.
- Heavenly Sweets of Hillsborough made a discounted donation of chocolates as gifts for dinner attendees.
- Five Guys of Hillsborough has made a donation of 200 pounds of potatoes, as well as four cases of peanuts.
- Cait's Cakes of Sumnerly Sweets made a donation of one large sheet cake and 500 cupcakes for a large discount total of $200.
- Outback Steak House of Princeton New Jersey made a donation of 11 free appetizer cards, as well as eight $10 off cards to use as gifts.
- Hillsborough Massage Therapy, LLC has made a donation of two 60 Minutes massage certificates to use as gifts.
- Big Bang Music Center located in Hillsborough for their donation of one acoustic guitar and one electric guitar to be used as give-a-ways at the dinner.
- Freeze Defense own and operated by Christopher Basista has donated three gift certificates for a free three-in-one winter coat.
- Everyone who made a donation rather it be on GoFundMe, in stores or by check.