As investigations continue into what caused a May 3 explosion that has shut down the Morristown & Township Library, officials of both towns tonight honored library staffers for their swift evacuation moments before the blast.
“They saved what was a disaster from becoming a tragedy,” Morris Township Mayor H. Scott Rosenbush said during a proclamation to library employees attending the Morristown council meeting.
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said Jersey Central Power & Light has not informed him of any breakthroughs in the probe, which includes the state Board of Public Utilities and Travelers Insurance. Public Service Electric & Gas, which also has been at the explosion site in Morristown, is not giving any updates, he said.
Library officials hope that a newer portion of the South Street facility can reopen by Labor Day. Library services are available through a temporary storefront at South and Pine streets, and elsewhere.
The building’s oldest section sustained severe damage, with buckled concrete floors, shattered windows and splintered furniture.
The incident occurred right around the library’s 9 a.m. opening. However, flickering lights and an alarm system prompted staffers to keep out the public. Maria Norton, now the library’s interim director, was driving into the parking lot on Miller Road when she noticed a smoking manhole cover. Streets around the library have been plagued by exploding manhole covers, and the library blew up back in 1994.
Without hesitation, Maria gave the word to evacuate. Moments later, South Street shook from the powerful blast.
“I can only guarantee you this,” Mayor Dougherty told the library staff. “I will not rest until we find the cause and the solution, to make sure this doesn’t happen again… Our council is behind you, and is fully supportive of doing whatever we have to do to get to the bottom of what happened, so no lives are at risk in the town of Morristown. And that I guarantee you, I will work feverishly…to determine that this never happens again.”
Mayor Rosenbush added: “In other parts of the world, what these people did would be commonplace. But this isn’t the Middle East, this isn’t Afghanistan, this isn’t Iraq. But some of these people actually lived through a prior explosion in 1994. You hate to have that kind of training. But thank God they did, because they saved what was a disaster from becoming a tragedy.
“Their quick thinking, their prompt action, their immediate response, was extraordinary… And I agree with Tim that we will do everything to make sure they don’t have to use that experience again,” he said.
Later in the evening, the Morristown council passed a resolution requesting a report from the Board of Public Utilities on the explosion’s cause, and on a remediation plan, when the investigations are complete.
The vote followed a testy exchange between Mayor Dougherty and resolution sponsor Alison Deeb. The Mayor took exception to a statement by the councilwoman that he interpreted as critical of his administration’s response to the explosion’s aftermath. Alison countered that she merely wanted to make sure everything was properly documented.
She also urged the Mayor to press JCP&L and other investigators to appear at council meetings even when they have nothing to report, so they can field questions from residents.
Councilwoman Michelle Harris-King cast the only dissenting vote, arguing that library updates are documented in the minutes of council meetings. Councilman James Smith was absent for the vote.
At least one Morristown resident is growing impatient for an explanation of the exploding library and manhole covers.
“There’s a chemical reason,” said Murray Cohen, a chemist and retired founder of Newark-based Epolin, a company that makes expensive dyes used in infrared filters.
“You don’t get explosions unless there is a mixture of fuel and air,” he said. “Is there a leaky gas line? If you have electricity and water, you can have electrolysis, which will generate hydrogen and oxygen. Add a spark, and it’s a deadly combination. But right now it’s all speculation.”
