If you study the design of mega-warehouses—and read trade articles about fire suppression—many come to this conclusion: “Fire departments beware. These structures simply do not fit into the traditional pre-connect firefighting model, and we should not risk the community’s fire protection resources—that includes our members and equipment—for a transaction that is almost surely a loser.” 

That quote is from www.firerescue1.com, a site dedicated to providing firefighters with the information they need to protect their communities and stay safe.

What usually happens at a mega-warehouse fire site is that they simply treat the structure as a perimeter containment fire and let it burn to the ground. 

This is because it is too dangerous to send firefighters into a massive and unmanageable maze of smoke and confusion.

If a fire were to happen, all those stored household goods turn into microscopic toxic air pollution soot that falls into nearby water sources and microscopic toxic runoff.

This makes its way into our shallow sand and gravel unconfined aquifer, contaminating it beyond repair. 

Our leaders should be making sound economic policy based on all the available comprehensive evidence—not wishful or flawed thinking. 

Send a strong message to our current commissioners that we the voters/taxpayers demand better stewardship—with intelligent and sustainable development projects that improve our quality of life. 

They shouldn’t put our treasured way of life into existential jeopardy. 

A catastrophic fire at a mega-warehouse would mean “Game Over” for our unconfined aquifer.

Vito DiBiasi is a member of Friends of the Milford Aquifer. He lives in Dingman Township, PA.