Even though Millstone’s 2012 fire district budget does not contain a tax increase, officials are encouraging residents to cast votes on Saturday, Feb. 18, to show support for it.

David Markunas, chairman of the Millstone Board of Fire Commissioners, presented the budget to the governing body at the Feb. 1 Township Committee meeting.

According to the presentation, the Millstone Fire Department currently has eight full-time career firefighters along with 20 active volunteer firefighters. It also has eight probationary firefighters, one fire police officer, 30 members of the Ladies’Auxiliary and five Explorers.

Last year the fire department responded to 750 incidents, up from 701 in 2010, or a 7.5 percent increase.

These included 21 structure fires in Millstone, 87 mutual aid calls, and 55 calls into Millstone from other mutual aid companies.

Markunas said the department responded to calls in Manalapan, Upper Freehold and Allentown.

It also responded to 92 motor vehicle accident calls — of which 13 required extrication — and six vehicle fires.

Markunas showed photographs of some of these accidents, and Mayor Nancy Grbelja noted that some incidents occurred at what she called “two of the worst intersections,” Millstone and Carrs Tavern roads and Stillhouse and Stagecoach roads. She said she has spoken to the New Jersey State Police, who provide police services to the township, many times about these intersections. The fire department also responded to 224 emergency services assists as part of the first responder program, up from 147 in 2010.

The department coordinated four Medevac helicopter landings, down from eight in 2010.

During 2011, the department responded to 80 calls of downed power lines, 17 brush fires, 16 hazardous materials incidents and 27 carbon monoxide detector activations, of which seven had high readings.

Hurricane Irene struck the township over Labor Day weekend, and Markunas said the department received 70 calls in a 27-hour period. This included one swift-water rescue at the height of the storm, on Route 33 and Applegarth Road, when someone was trapped in their automobile.

Besides around-the-clock station staffing, the fire department performed multiple basement pump-outs in the week following Irene.

Vehicles owned by the department in- clude two engines, with the older one dating from 1997 and the newer one from 2008; a 1993 rescue truck; a 2000 Tele-Squirt; a 1991 Dodge Ram brush truck; a 2001 tanker that holds 2,000 gallons, and a 1990 tanker that holds 6,000 gallons.

The fleet also includes four command/utility vehicles and a decontamination trailer.

During the year, the department purchased two new utility vehicles, replaced its septic system and completed the first phase of replacing self-contained breathing apparatus tanks.

Markunas said the department’s surplus was nearly exhausted, with increased insurance, pension obligation, fuel, protective equipment and contingency costs.

Several critical equipment purchases must bemade in 2012, he said. These include the second phase of purchasing breathing apparatus tanks for approximately $30,000, new radio communications equipment priced at $55,000 and the purchase of two new thermal imaging cameras at $20,000.

Members of the department also want to replace a deteriorated section of concrete on the driveway apron of the firehouse for $25,000, install a new concrete training pad at $9,000 and purchase a new equipment storage rack for $10,000.

Despite the projects and purchases, no additional tax is necessary, because the septic costs came in lower than expected, as did the vehicle purchases, he said. FEMA reimbursed the department for 75 percent of Irene-related expenses, according toMarkunas .

The total budget for 2012 is $1,759,550, slightly more than $40,000 over last year’s budget. The amount to be raised by taxes is $1,512,150, with the difference coming from capital reserves. The tax rate is .085 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Deputy Mayor Michael Kuczinski urged residents to vote for the budget.

“It would be a shock to me if it were defeated, but we can’t take that for granted,” he said. “If people assume the budget will pass automatically and don’t show up, you could have a few people who don’t support it show up and it could fail.”

Committeeman Fiore Masci said this was casting a vote to save lives, much different from casting a vote for a political candidate.

Voting will take place at the firehouse at 461 Stagecoach Road from 2 to 9 p.m.