Special Feature

Hackensack 3-Alarmer

On March 20, 2022, the Hackensack Fire Department responded to a four-story OMD on State Street fora fire. En route D/C Danzo reported heavy smoke in the area and arrived to heavy fire showing from the top floorand transmitted a second alarm. Companies went interiorand eventually a third alarm was struck bringing Englewood and Ridgefield Park trucks to the scene. Atrench cut was made and, due to coordinated efforts, fire spread was limited and was undercontrol within 20 minutes of arrival. Companies from Bogota, Teaneck and Ridgefield Park also responded to the scene. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Atlantic City Drone Program

Atlantic City Fire Department in cooperation with Atlantic Cape Community College, has developed a drone program that, upon completion and passing of an exam, the student will achieve a small aircraft pilot license. The program was developed to assist police and firefighters in aerial observation. Recently that was put into use when a person went missing in the meadows and was found by using the drones. Atlantic City PD recently used the drones to locate two perps with guns who ran into a marsh to escape apprehension. - Fire News photos by Dennis C. Sharpe

Storage Building Goes in Milmay

The volunteerfire companies of Milmay, Dorothy Fire and Rescue and Richland were dispatched on February 10, 2022, at 1318, to Tuckahoe Road in Milmay fora structure fire with heavy fire showing. Both Dorothy and Richland responded with theirwatertenders and command requested an additional tenders from East Vineland and Estell Manor. Dorothy firefighters set up a blitz fire onto the building along with two handlines and made a good stop. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded as some grassland was involved. The only exposure, a residence, was not involved and the Division of Fire Safety responded to investigate the fire. - Fire News photo by Ken Badger

Fire Destroys Landscaping Storage Building in Hopewell Twp.

Alarge storage building belonging to a landscaping business was destroyed by fire in Hopewell Township during the early hours of February 6, 2022. Pennington Chief Jim DeForte arrived to find heavy fire involving a storage building and several vehicles located behind the owner’s residence on Reed Road. The balance of the first alarm was dispatched, sending mutual aid to the scene. An aerial masterstream was put in service, along with several lines. The Signal 22 canteen unit from Trenton also responded to provide drinks and other refreshments to cold, wet and weary firefighters. The temperature at 0300 as crews continued to overhaul the smoldering ruins, was 16-degrees F.

- Fire News photo by Michael Ratcliffe

2022 New Jersey Emergency Preparedness Conference Is a Wrap!

With only eight months to plan this year’s Conference, all the volunteers had their hands full, but they stepped up and produced a Conference that offered 27 training sessions, 28 breakout sessions, a Young Professionals event, an exhibit hall, and large vehicle display to the nearly 900 registrants.

Tuesday evening at the Networking and Awards Reception, Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police ignored his 18-page speech and spoke from the heart about the challenges and successes faced by New Jersey over the past two-plus years because of the pandemic.

Jake Sneeden from Atlantic City Electric awarded Gloucester County OEM the company’s Award of Merit for their response during the touchdown of an EF-3 tornado in the county last year.

Nick Massa, NJEPATrustee, presented the Jonathan Young Scholarships sponsored by Emergency Manager 1 and M.A.S.E. Concepts to Eric Edelstein and Christina Walsh.

Phyllis Worrell, NJEPATrustee, presented the Kevin Tuno Emergency Manager of the Year award, posthumously to Colonel (Ret.) Edward Reynolds.

The balance of the week gave attendees the opportunity to renew old friendships and establish new ones.

Keep an eye on this publication for the announcement of next year's Conference dates.

Thank you again for attending and we look forward to our 24th Annual Conference next year!