Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor Are You Ready for2023?

The year 2022 brought reality to many firefighters with the Line of Duty Deaths of many of our colleagues. Cancer took many of our heroes from their families and co-workers in 2022. To all responders, there are measures that we can take to keep ourselves and our families safe from cancer. You have heard me talk about the things we can do to protect ourselves from this insidious disease. In 2023, please take the advice from the people who are working hard to convince all responders that wearing clean protective gear and SCBAis a good start to keeping yourself safe. The IAFF states that firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. At the 2022 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, almost 75 percent of the names added to the wall (348 out of 469) were members who had died from occupational cancer. Visit IAFF.org to learn about cancer among firefighters. January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness month. Take some time in 2023 to learn what you can do to be “safer” from this disease. Thank you to the IAFF for making firefighters aware of cancer and what you can do to stay safe and lessen your chances of getting cancer.

For over 30 years, I was an Industrial Arts/Technology teacher. I taught middle school kids to use tools and machinery which, today, is considered dangerous. Sadly, many of the projects we did are no longer performed in schools. Industry and the fire service is now feeling the effects of not training kids to safely use machinery. The fire service is also noticing that many probationary firefighters are uncomfortable with using cutting tools. Thank you to our chiefs, officers and training committees for teaching our members how to use machinery and tools safely.

I also would like to thank our chiefs, company officers and senior members for setting up an intense program that teaches all members, new and old, to work safely as they battle the flames that greet them at a working fire. It is evident that all departments are doing a great job teaching our firefighters to operate safely. Many of my neighboring departments battled fatal fires in 2022. It was a tough year for many of you. Thank you to the chiefs that set up counseling sessions with the firefighters who experienced death on the fire ground. Thank you to the responders that took the opportunity to be part of these classes. Your professionalism came through by your presence at these sessions.

In 2023, give thought to what you can do to be a better firefighter. Your community needs you, 24/7! Stay active, train and share your knowledge and experiences with your new members.

As a firefighter dealing with cancer, I appreciated the comradeship that I received in 2022. I am hoping that in 2023 I will be able to get back to what I love to do; that is to assist in training firefighters. In the meantime, have a safe and wonderful News Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Stay strong in 2023! - Dennis

Cover Story

Route 80 CarFire

Recently the Budd Lake department was dispatched to Route 80 east at milemarker26 in Budd Lake fora carfire. Cars 50 and 51 and Engine 59 were on the assignment and found a fully involved caron the side of the highway. The fire was quickly knocked down with Engine 59’s front bumperline. There were no injuries on scene and the crews returned to service within an hour. - Fire News photo by A/C Kevin J. Maloney; Budd Lake FC

Page 6, Fire News, January 2023 UpperSaddle River5-Alarmer

At approximately 1640 on October16, 2022, the UpperSaddle River Fire Department was dispatched foran activated fire alarm on Hillsdale Avenue. On arrival, a second alarm was immediately requested by the chief and he reported a well involved, very large 31/2 story frame home. Heavy smoke was visible formiles as companies were en route. With no hydrants in the area and the need fora positive watersupply, command requested a third alarm at 1700, reporting fire on all floors and through the roof of the 10,000-squarefoot mansion. Aladderpipe was set up as well as a towerladderas an engine company prepared to draft from a nearby swimming pool. With the home still well involved, a fourth alarm was transmitted and a tankershuttle was set up on Hillside Avenue. The home was within a few hundred feet of the New York State line and numerous departments from Rockland County (NY) responded to the scene along with multiple departments from the northern end of Bergen County. Within an hourthe entire roof collapsed along with all the floors and portions of the exteriorwalls. At 1925 command reported that the main body of fire was knocked down, howeverheavy pockets of fire remained and all companies continued to operate with the two aerial streams performing hydraulic overhaul. Afifth alarm was requested at 2015 forrelief and additional station coverage. The fire continued to smolderthroughout the night. No injuries were reported and the origin was being investigated by the Fire Prevention Bureau. - Fire News photos by Peter Danzo

North Arlington 3-Alarmer

On September22, 2022, the North Arlington Fire Department was dispatched to a home underconstruction on Union Avenue fora house fire. Crews followed a large column of smoke to the scene where heavy fire was showing from a large 2-1/2 story wood frame home. Asecond alarm was struck, quickly followed by a third as heavy fire worked its way to the upperfloors. Ladder3’s crew vented the roof where fire began to break out. Due to limited access to the attic space, command ordered the building to be evacuated to switch the operations to a defensive attack. Crews from Kearny, Rutherford and Lyndhurst operated on scene with North Arlington fornearly two hours. - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

Page 8, Fire News, January 2023

Brick MVA into Building

On October7, 2022, Brick Fire Station 23 and EMS responded to a commercial building on the cornerof Route 88 and Coolidge fora reported vehicle versus a building. EMS and first arriving chiefs found a severely damaged SUVinto a building with the unconscious driverstill inside. Brick Fire’s Technical Rescue Team was requested to the scene to secure the building as Brick EMS transported the driverto OMC with CPR in progress.

- Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Carinto Building in Cardiff

The Cardiff VolunteerFire Company responded to the 7-11 on Tilton Road on November27, 2022, for a report of a carinto the building. Firefighters responded and stood by until the investigatorfrom the township construction office arrived and determined the building was safe. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Ship Bottom Celebrates 100 Years

The Ship Bottom VolunteerFire Company from Ocean County celebrated 100 years of dedicated service to theirs and theirsurrounding communities on October15, 2022, with a gala parade and an apparatus inspection by the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Parade Judges Association and with festivities at theirstation. The truck second from thertop on the left is their1937 Ford which fought the Hindenburg airship fire.

- Fire News photos by Dennis C. Sharpe and Mark Rosetti

FireNews.com

Fire News, January 2023, Page 11 Flames Damage Red Roof Inn in Lawrence Township

Afire involving one of the three buildings at the Red Roof Inn in Lawrence Township, MercerCounty, was quickly extinguished before it could cause any serious damage during the early hours of October 13, 2022. It was 0204 when Lawrence Township’s three volunteerfire companies were dispatched, along with Squad 12 and Truck 17 from Hamilton Township. Lawrence Township police arrived to find smoke and flames showing from a second-floorbalcony overthe motel’s office in Building A. Police discharged several dry chemical extinguishers in an effort to check the fire’s spread. Squad 12 then arrived and led off with a 2-1/2-inch hoseline and quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire. - Fire News photo by Michael Ratcliffe

Pleasant Plains MVA

On October4, 2022, Toms RiverStations 29 and 30 were requested by Hatzolah EMS fora MVAwith entrapment on Vermont Avenue in Pleasant Plains. Rescue 3033 and Squad 2913 arrived to a two-car MVArequiring a doorpop. The single extricated occupant was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

1 Fatality at Mays Landing 2-CarMVA

The volunteerfire companies of Mays Landing, Laureldale, and Richland along with the Township of Hamilton EMS and Police were dispatched on September2, 2022, to Millville and Pittsburgh Avenues at the South River“S” curve fora report of an MVAwith entrapment. This is the site of numerous fatal accidents, with this being no exception. Mays Landing Chief Lou DiMartine arrived and established command fora two-vehicle crash with both vehicles in the roadway and the second vehicle onto the guardrail with the occupant trapped. Upon the arrival of Mays Landing Assistant Chief Ken Badger, Jr., extrication duties were split between Mays Landing Rescue 1816 and Richland Engine 1211. Vehicle 1’s occupant was removed apparently deceased, while Vehicle 2’s occupant was removed and medevac’d to the Atlantic City Trauma Centerin Atlantic City. Also responding was the Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. - Fire News photos by Ken Badger

Egg HarborCity Fire

On November22, 2022, Egg HarborCity and South Egg Harborfire departments were dispatched fora structure fire. Car100 arrived and confirmed a working fire showing from the second floorof a two-story residential structure. Engine 10-1 arrived and stretched a line to the second floor, extinguishing the single-room fire. Ladder10 arrived and positioned forfurtherventilation. South Egg Harborarrived and assisted the first-due units. The fire was quickly placed under control with no reported injuries. - Fire News photo by Eric ‘Doc’Moran