Fire Chief Gives Warning About Parking As Livingston Leaf Pickup Begins

LIVINGSTON, NJ — With leaf collection starting for a portion of town on Monday, the police are warning residents that parking on leaves has caused fires in the past.

Fire Chief Chris Mullin said, "Every year Fire Departments across the northeast are faced with the 'car fire season.' ... in the past in Livingston, we would lose 3-4 cars a year due to vehicle operators carelessly parking their vehicle atop a pile of leaves."

Mullin noted that the catalytic converter, underneath the car, "reaches temperatures reaching upwards of 900 degrees as it turns harmful exhaust gases into less harmful emissions. This super-heated metal component which is part of the exhaust system operates at far above the ignition temperature of dried leaves."

Mullin said that thanks to education, as well as "the expedited leaf removal schedule within the township," the town has seen a reduction in these fires.

Mullin said drivers should be careful where they park.

Leaf Pickup May Begin Early

The town said this week that leaf pickup for section 3 of town is set to begin Monday, but may begin this Friday, Nov. 18, for a "head start." Collection will then continue Monday.

They "will NOT make any residential pickups on Saturday, November 19," the town noted.

The town added:

On Saturday, Nov. 19, trucks:

• Will pick up ONLY in School Zones.
• Will make School-Zone pickups at ALL SCHOOLS in all Leaf Collection Sections.

They added:

• Section 3 leaf collection will officially begin on Monday, November 21, no matter if trucks have already come through.
• Only School Zones will be picked up on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Find out more here.