Old Bridge, New Jersey — December 16 — After a third-alarm structure fire at 9 Sioux Street in Middlesex County, the South Old Bridge Volunteer Fire Company was tasked with station coverage.

A third alarm was set off to support continuing efforts when a fire broke out in a two-story residential building. South Old Bridge units staffed their station to provide emergency coverage in the surrounding region while first-due and mutual-aid companies worked at the fire incident. Station coverage assignments make it possible to handle more service requests while allocating resources to major emergencies. Emergency services were able to continue to be provided throughout the crisis because to coordinated coverage and mutual assistance responses, according to fire officials.