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Bob Zander Colts Neck Fire Marshal
01/09/2008 - By Lauren Covino
Bob Zander
Colts Neck Fire MarshalMore than just an enforcer of state laws and regulations for over 23 years, Colts Neck Fire Marshal Bob Zander has a genuine concern for the safety of our local businesses and the people who govern them. Next time you walk into a school, check into a hospital, enjoy July 4th fireworks at our town fair, or spend time in any commercial building within Colts Neck, rest assured that Bob has taken the utmost consideration for your protection. His primary goal, as a part-time one-man team in our town, is to eliminate a tragedy before it has a chance to happen. As Bob explains, “Many of the rules the state requires I implement were put in place because of a previous and unfortunate situation.”
Having been a resident of Colts Neck for more than 46 years, he is amazed by the amount of growth and business development; the town expects to jump from a current 160 businesses to 270 over the next few years. A golf course on Leland Drive, a new retail outlet, additional restaurants, and a banquet center are all being considered. Playing an integral role in the town’s expansion, Bob says, “I like knowing that an establishment is successful and can continue to thrive in our town because I’ve done my job properly.”
Life as fire marshal is filled with unexpected twists and even an occasional chuckle. Bob recalls an interesting inspection at a massage therapist’s office where he needed to ascertain that patients would have enough time to put their clothes on before exiting the building in an emergency! He happily reported that there have been few problems with town businesses following rules. “Any smart business owner doesn’t want to be shut down because of a fire or sued due to a customer injury.” Recalling the deadly nightclub fire in Rhode Island several years ago, Bob feels that disaster was completely avoidable had the owners followed proper inspection steps.
Part of staying abreast of state regulations and changes within the town means becoming involved in organizations such as the Monmouth County Fire Protection and Prevention Association; this group consists of all the fire marshals and officials in the county. In addition, he is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators, assists the Executive Fire Council, and sits on the Safety Plan Committee for the Primary, Elementary, and Middle Schools in Colts Neck. He recently worked with Cedar Drive (which he attended and was part of the first class to ever graduate) to implement a simulated fire with theatrical smoke and a live drill. “This was a neat way for us to really test the students’ knowledge in an emergency,” says Bob. He also spends time working on new programs, such as a numerical system for all commercial businesses and a pre-inspection guideline pamphlet for business owners in preparation for his visit. To better serve our town, Bob is constantly looking to make his programs more interesting and broaden his own knowledge. “This year I’ll be attending ‘Understanding the ISO, Incorporated Fire Suppression Rating Schedule,’ which will be advantageous for improving our town’s rating and can lead to lower insurance rates for businesses and ultimately home owners.”
A father of three and happily married, Bob originally majored in architecture and building construction in college. Fire prevention was something that always intrigued him and he began his career at age 18. He has attended a variety of fire academies all over the state, has held every line officer position possible, and served as Chief of the Fire Department before becoming Fire Marshal.
Even in a constant position of authority, he is known as a real comedian outside the office. There is something else you may not know about him: he has been the Youth Minister at Trinity Episcopal Church in Red Bank for 3 years. “It would be worth the price of admission to see me do the Father Abraham Song and dance around like I do,” he laughs. Bob says the best part about his job is meeting new people and seeing their businesses prosper; he only wishes there was more time to accomplish everything he desires to do as Fire Marshal. —by Lauren Covino
Are you or someone you know in Colts Neck a “Person on the Move”? If you’ve got a story to tell this could be you! Email a brief description to us at info@livinginmedia.com and let us know who you are.
Boxes (side notes):
STATS
Favorite restaurants: Sawa in Long Branch, Fritzy’s in Howell, and 7 Hills of Istanbul in Highland Park
Favorite musicians: everything based on my mood – Pat Metheny Group and Jack Johnson are great to unwind to
Favorite movies: The Quiet Man, Patton, and any good comedy with Gene Wilder
Pet peeve: people unwilling to take responsibility
Three people you would like to have dinner with: Thomas Edison —one of the greatest minds and inventors in history; Stevie Ray Vaughan — one of the greatest guitar players ever; and my family
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