Wanted: Majestic Holiday Tree for Downtown Basking Ridge

The Basking Ridge Fire Co. is continuing its search for an evergreen tree to be used as the Township Holiday Tree that would be located in the center of the downtown area in Basking Ridge. 

Every year the fire company accepts a tree donated by a local resident, sometimes because the tree is becoming too large for the spot where it is located.

The fire company volunteers take responsibility for cutting the tree down and placing it on the small green in Basking Ridge center. Firefighters and volunteers also decorate the tree for the holidays, relying on fire equipment to reach the top. 

Last year, the fire company had a main choice, and a backup, by the end of October, but Superstorm Sandy destroyed those trees, and the search began again for a new tree not destroyed or too damaged in the storm. The tree eventually selected had some evidence of storm damage, but still towered in the downtown until the New Year.

Impact of Sandy and other storms still felt on availability of trees

Last year's storm, and the hurricane and early October snow in 2011 have had the combined effect of taking down many large trees and as a result no one has yet come forward at this point to donate a tree, according to the fire company's spokesman, ex-chief Jack McGrath.

Residents who have a tree to donate can contact Todd Middleton, committee chairman, at: Repair@brfco.com, or call him at 908-400-4692.

The Fire Company will arrive to down the tree, clean up afterward, and transport the tree away in a couple of hours. 

The traditional date for the tree to be set up in downtown Basking Ridge is the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day, which this year falls on November 30.