Shamong Township held its monthly committee meeting on July 7 following a busy holiday weekend.
As part of the reports portion of the meeting, John Lyons, Shamong’s emergency management coordinator and captain of Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Co., shared updates for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the fire company.
Most notably, OEM completed its second quarter of 2026. Lyons shared highlights between April and June, as well as touching on emergency events from 4th of July weekend in the third quarter that are notable nonetheless.
In April, the office ran its free rabies vaccination clinic for residents with cats or dogs, working with local vets and the township to to provide the shots.
Emergency services responded on May 23 to a report of 14 stranded kayakers in Basto River at Wharton State Forest. Lyons said the “very large-scale, real-life incident” was initially “deemed as a mass casualty” when first reported.
But 10 teen Boy Scouts and four accompanying adults were rescued by OEM, local emergency departments, the state police and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service after they reached obstructions on the river and could not move themselves for help.
“The incident unfolded to be a massive public safety response with a happy ending,” Lyons recounted. “Thankfully, I can report there was no loss of life, no major issues … (We had) a positive outcome and really good coordination between many, many agencies.”
OEM assisted with Memorial Day events for both Tabernacle and Shamong, and it provided Crossroads Church with its own emergency AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
During 4th of July weekend, OEM and the Indian Mills’ firefighters responded to the severe effects of stormy weather. There were several power outages across town that impacted residential homes, businesses and street lighting. Responders quickly assisted and received help from Atlantic City Electric’s storm center.
The responders also helped extinguish a July 3 fire at Fellowship Alliance Church in Medford during the holiday weekend. The blaze occurred a little after 9 p.m. and was determined to have been caused by lightning that affected the top of the church’s worship center.
Severe storms and record heat required a large turnout of emergency teams across Burlington, Camden and Atlantic counties. According to Lyons, Shamong had units at traffic, firefighting and rescue scenes. But “numerous” structural fires in Southampton and Tabernacle split responder times between the church and other demands.
“We had 20 to 25 calls, plus four building fires at the same time,” recalled Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company Chief Mike Bader. “Out of necessity, we had to use the new 2811 (fire truck) for calls.”
Firefighters of Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Co. Engine 2812 were among responders kept busy during severe weather and heat.
