Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor Are You Ready To Meet The Press?

As we enter the holiday season, I ask everyone to pause for a moment and say a prayer for our brothers and sisters who have died in the line of duty. Take the time to remember the members in your department, who have served and have passed, leaving a void in their department. Experience tells me that the fire service will never forget those members who have passed in 2022.

To our officers, who prepare to lead their companies and departments in 2023; are you ready to make a difference? Ask yourself what you can do differently in the upcoming new year to instill an awareness of safe enthusiasm. I am proud to see my company members coming down to the firehouse on their own to check the rigs, test equipment, and to make sure their gear is in order, so they can quickly and safely respond to calls.

In November, I had the honor to attend the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation fundraiser as a Public Information Officer. No matter how large or small and incident is, you should be following the guidelines of the Incident Command System to make sure that every aspect of your event is safely covered by a qualified and responsible person. My job was to prepare to greet the press that may or may not show up to our event. I prepared a package that gave the history of Black Sunday, and I explained the purpose of the organization and how it has helped firefighters stay safe over the past 10 years. My job was to greet the press and set up a liaison from our group who could take the press around the handson training evolutions and answer any questions that they may have had for us.

As the editor of Fire News, I often receive telephone calls, text messages and emails requesting coverage for a special event at a local fire department. I explain to the person asking for help that I will do whatever I can to help them, but I cannot guarantee that one of our photographers will be able to make the event. I let the departments know that the Fire News photographers are freelance reporters, who typically cover emergency situations in their area. During my conversation, I will often ask, “Do you have a Public Information Officer?” It is my hope that they do.

APIO is the perfect job for a senior member who has good communication skills and knowledge of their department’s events. Today, with the advent of cellphones, word processing skills and email operations, your PIO can get photos and a writeup to all the local press, Fire News included. Your local fire academy often has a class to teach your PIO what to say and what not to say. Yes, sometimes the PIO must explain to citizens why certain situations appear to have gone wrong at a call when in fact nothing went wrong at all. A good PIO is a buffer between the public and the chief. Achief really cannot say he didn’t know something went wrong. APIO can say, “Let me get back to you on this.”

PIOs should start out slowly. Prepare a few photos and copy, about the event and send the information to Fire News. Now that Fire News has grown to 12 editions, turn to page three to find the email address for your paper.

I look forward to your stories. Have a safe holiday season!

- Dennis

Honoring 2 Firefighters

On October 16, 2022, members of the New Milford Fire Department companies 1 and 2, with the mayor and representatives of the town council held two ceremonies to honor two members of the department who were killed in the line of duty back in the early 1940s. The first member to be recognized was Firefighter Thomas Weisenbach from Company 1. Weisenbach responded from his home to the firehouse and proceeded to get on a piece of apparatus while responding to a fire. En route he told another member he did not feel good and the crew was able to get him to a nearby doctor’s home where he passed away on November 7, 1941.

The second firefighter being honored was from Company 2 Firefighter Philip Kehr. While responding to fire on a piece of apparatus there was a severe MVAinvolving a commuter bus. Kehr was ejected from the vehicle on impact and was killed when run over by one of the vehicles. This took place at the corner of River Road and Main Street on November 28, 1943. - Fire News photos by Chris ‘Doc’Denton

Looking Back

Shamong - 2017

On November10, 2017, District 28 units were alerted foran allhands house fire off Atsion Road in Shamong. Atendershuttle was established due to a lack of hydrants. The fire was brought undercontrol with no injuries reported. - Fire News photo by Dave Hernandez

New Milford - 1971

This American La-France LadderTruck served New Milford (NJ) from 1971 until 1989. It was then sold to Hollis (NH), then acquired by Hillsboro (NH), and was in service until late 2017. It is currently owned by a private collector. - Fire News photo by Chris ‘Doc’Denton

Dunellen Late 1950s

New Jersey Fire Equipment Company of Dunellen. There was a satellite office in Galloway Township where the International Pumperforthe Woolwich Fire Company and the Oren forPleasantville Fire Company 3 were delivered. Alittle history: (The front engine is a 1956 according to theirweb site. I know the rearengine is a 1957.) The Oren was eventually replaced by an International/Great Eastern that is still around today. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Route 9 CarFire

On August 21, 2022, the Pleasant Plains Fire Department was dispatched to a carfire on Route 9. Heavy smoke could be seen while responding and Chief 3000 arrived to a well involved engine compartment fire. Engines 3041, 3051 and Ladder3065 all responded and quickly knocked down the fire with a bumperline off Engine 41. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Kearny 5-AlarmerDisplaces 3 Families

Around 1040 on June 26, 2022, the Kearny Fire Department responded to Laurel Avenue fora house fire. On arrival, companies reported a working fire in a large 21/2 story frame dwelling with heavy fire on the first floorin the rear. Asecond alarm was transmitted as companies stretched lines and started searches. Within 10 minutes fire had extended into the Bravo exposure and command pulled everyone out of the original fire building. At 1120 a third alarm was requested followed by the fourth 20 minutes later. With soaring temperatures and high humidity, companies were hard pressed as the fire continued to spread in the bravo exposure. Afifth alarm was sounded at 1210 foradditional manpowerand, soon after, all members were withdrawn from the bravo exposure. Two aerial streams and numerous handlines were put into operation as heavy smoke covered the entire fireground due to the humidity. The fire, which took overthree hours to be extinguished, destroyed both buildings and left three families homeless. - Fire News photos by Peter Danzo

Page 8, Fire News, December2022 Cover Story

Multi-Alarm Blaze Destroys Ewing Township Community Gym

Firefighters from several Mercer County municipalities spent the predawn hours of September30, 2022, battling a raging multi-alarm inferno that destroyed the gymnasium of the Ewing Township Senior and Community Center. It was 0258 when West Trenton Fire (Station 33) volunteers were dispatched fora fire alarm at the centeron LowerFerry Road. Just minutes later, on-duty Ewing Township careerfirefighters (Station 30) and Prospect Heights Volunteer Fire (Station 31) members were alerted. West Trenton Chief Mike Anderson arrived to find the gym, in the centerof the complex of interconnected buildings, fully engulfed. He immediately ordered the second alarm. Squirt 31, already on the road clearing up from an earlierassignment, put theirmaster stream in service. Watersupply problems — low pressure and a leaking hydrant — prompted a third alarm, along with a special call fora tanker task force. Ultimately, fouraerial masterstreams and several handlines were put to work. Afterseveral partial collapses, what was left of the gym roof fully collapsed around 0530. The blaze, which was prevented from spreading to the otherparts of the facility, was declared undercontrol at 0713. Mutual aid came from Lawrence, Trenton, Hamilton, Pennington, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Princeton, Falls (PA) and Washington Crossing (PA).

- Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe

Just afternoon on September20, 2022, Teaneck and Ridgefield Park fire departments were dispatched to a report of a carfire on I-80 westbound. On arrival of Teaneck, the fire was determined to be in theirjurisdiction. The car was well involved and fire had also extended to the brush on the side of the highway. Two engines from Teaneck went to work on the car fire while an engine from Ridgefield Park and one from Teaneck responded to the local street above the fire to check forextension. An additional engine from Ridgefield Park assisted with the brush fire on the highway and the fire was brought undercontrol in 15 minutes. - Fire News photos by Peter Danzo

Teaneck CarFire on I-80

On September30, 2022, the Springfield Fire Department responded to a commercial building on Springfield Avenue fora vehicle into the building. Crews arrived to a single carMVAoff the roadway into the gas meterof the building which had caught fire. AMillburn engine, Summit engine, and Union Ladderresponded. Units were able to safely evacuate the structure and secure the gas, dowsing the fire and preventing any extension into the buildings. The incident was placed under control a half-hourafterarrival. - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

Carinto Building MVA in Springfield

60+ Displaced at Passaic Blaze

Alittle before 0200 on October14, 2022, the Passaic Fire Department responded to a reported building fire at Madison Street and Hamilton Avenue. Ladder2 reported a working fire in a large, three-story, mixed-use building. Asecond alarm was quickly transmitted as companies reported heavy fire on the first-floorrear. Several handlines were put into service as trucks conducted searches and ventilated. With companies reporting fire on the second floor and running the walls command requested a third alarm and the roof ventilated. Conditions continued to deteriorate with fire now in the cockloft and third floor, forcing command to evacuate the building. Ladderpipes and blitz fires were set up and put into operation as fire vented from the roof and, as the fire continued to spread horizontally across the cockloft, a fourth alarm was transmitted. Four aerial streams, several handlines and blitz fires worked to stop the spread and protect the exposures. Over60 people were left homeless and the building was destroyed; however, there were no injuries and the fire was contained to the original fire building. - Fire News photos by Peter Danzo

Estell Manor House Fire

The volunteerfire companies of Estell Manor, Dorothy Fire & Rescue (Weymouth Township), Milmay (Buena Vista Township), and Mays Landing (Township of Hamilton) in Atlantic County were dispatched on May 3, 2022 to Fifth Avenue in Estell ManorCity fora dwelling fire with a reported entrapment. Estell ManorFire officerNick Bly arrived and reported fire on the A, B, and C sides. Dorothy’s engine pulled in first to attack the fire with a Milmay engine following behind dropping the LDH. Numerous handlines were pulled from both apparatus with a line being taken to the front doorfora interiorattack while additional lines were taken to the rearof the structure. Additional watertenders were called from East Vineland and Minotola which shuttled waterto the scene. The fire was brought undercontrol in several hours and ws underinvestigation by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. - Fire News photos by Ken Badger

2-Alarm Apartment Building Blaze in Florence Twp.

District 40 units were alerted forreports of black smoke in the area of the Florence tollgate plaza on October9, 2022. Engine 4012 confirmed smoke visible from the station and requested all companies be placed in service. Burlington County Central Communications reported an elderly person trapped inside the apartment building. Engine 4012 arrived and requested a second alarm fora fully involved apartment. The victim was located and safe. The fire went to two alarms. - Fire News photos by Dave Hernandez

Multiple Extrications Performed at Ewing Township MVA

Several people had to be extricated from the wreckage aftera pickup truck and an SUVcollided in Ewing Township, MercerCounty, on October14, 2022. Among the injured was an infant who was allegedly not riding in a child carseat and was unrestrained when the crash occurred. Ewing Township police, EMS and firefighters, along with Capital Health System paramedics, were dispatched at 2057 forthe collision in front of the Wendy’s restaurant in the 1700 block of North Olden Avenue. When emergency personnel arrived, they found three adults and the infant trapped in the two heavily-damaged autos. Ewing careerfirefighters and volunteers from Prospect Heights and West Trenton fire companies quickly extricated the victims, who were transported to the regional trauma centerby Ewing, Lawrence and Trenton EMS personnel. - Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe

You Gotta’ Get in There First

One of the most basic things a firefighterneeds to know, besides flowing waterand suppression, is forcible entry. You cannot put out the fire orperform a rescue if you cannot get to it. Students at the FirefighterI class at the Atlantic County fire school were taught forcible entry with Instructors Merola and Dougherty looking on. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe