Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor Are You Ready forSomething That Can’t Happen?

An AS/MCI (active shooter/mass casualty incident) drill was held at Greenport (NY) High School on June 4, 2022. The drill had been scheduled months prior, but somewhat eerily took place 11 days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting in which 19 elementary school students and two teachers were slaughtered. The proximity to that latest AS/MCI is what has prompted this editorial. The drill involved the Southold Police, Suffolk Police, North Fork fire departments and EMS services from Jamesport to Orient, and even several South Fork departments, along with moulaged teenage actors to play victims. By all reports the exercise was a success.

But what makes a successful AS/MCI drill?

According to FEMA’s 2013 white paper, Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department Operational Considerations and Guide for Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Incidents, there are several things that responding agencies need to incorporate into a specific SOPfor such an event. Why formalize reacting to an AS/MCI if your department already has an MCI plan in place? Because the “AS” part of the exercise makes it, nearly, an entirely different animal.

Some particular areas of focus, become apparent with little thought and are proved out —or have problems made obvious —by an AS/MCI drill. Some key facets are communication between the parties, including ensuring all parties are not only able to communicate with each other, but use the same terminologies when doing so. This is unlikely to be a problem between FDs and EMS, but it may become a problem when communicating with law enforcement (LE) who, in most instances, will be first on the scene.

Other areas of concern will become apparent in frequent drills involving all the aforementioned agencies, as well as local hospitals and trauma units. There needs to be a single Incident Command Post for fire, EMS and LE.

The goal of any and all SOPs is to plan, prepare and respond in a manner that will save the maximum number of lives possible.

Although in their careers most first responders have encountered some horrific scenarios, the results of a mass shooting of unarmed people — seemingly more often than not children with obviously terminal wounds —will undoubtedly be something first responders will never forget. Many of the first responders will be long-term casualties of this ongoing slaughter, even if they never spilled a drop of their own blood. As psychology researcher Deborah C. Beidel, Ph.D. of the University of Central Florida, who has studied the impact these slaughters have on first responders, put it, “There are just some events that are so horrific that no human being should be able to just process that and put it away.”

Add after-action reports and treatments to the long list of things an AS/MCI SOPdemands.

Alast note … “It’ll never happen here” too often becomes, “Oh my God, how did this happen?”

Be prepared for the thing that’ll never happen. And the only way to do so is to train for it. - Gary P. Joyce

Managing Editor Gary P. Joyce is filling in for Editor Dennis Whitman this month. Joyce is a decorated three-tour Viet Nam combat veteran.

Cover Story

2-Alarm Blaze Destroys Perth Amboy Home

Two firefighters were injured battling a blaze that gutted a two-family dwelling in Perth Amboy on May 7, 2022, at 1255. Perth Amboy firefighters were dispatched to William Street. Upon theirarrival, heavy smoke was showing from all floors of the 2-1/2 story structure and heavy fire was discovered in the basement. Asecond alarm was quickly sounded formutual aid. An aggressive attack and primary searches were initiated, but deteriorating interiorconditions —caused by balloon-frame construction allowing rapid vertical extension — prompted an evacuation of all personnel from the structure and a switch to defensive operations. Multiple hoselines and Truck 2’s aerial masterstream were utilized to extinguish the fire and protect exposures. While the fire building was a total loss, only minimal damage was sustained to the side B exposure. Six people were left homeless. The two injured firefighters were treated at local hospitals. Companies that operated on scene included Perth Amboy Engines 1, 2 and 3, Trucks 2 and 3, and Rescue 1, along with Engine 3 (Melrose) from Sayreville and Truck 6 (Woodbridge) and Rescue 8 (Hopelawn) from Woodbridge. - Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe

Looking Back

Ocean City - 2015

Ocean City Dispatch received a call on November19, 2015, about warehouse fire. Upon arrival, Chief ChristopherBreunig reported fire in the rearof the building. Access to the seat of the fire was difficult because of the steel construction of the building and the electrical service had fused itself to the metal building eneregizing the building. - Fire News photo by Robert Macom

Camden City - 2015

On October17, 2015, a dwelling fire was reported on Baring Street in Camden City. Command reported fire extension into the attached exposures. One minorfirefighterinjury was reported. - Fire News photo by Ted Aurig

Paterson - 2015

On November9, 2015, Paterson crews responded to the area of Market Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard fora fire in an abandoned 1895-built city-block-sized armory. As time went on, command requested a fifth, sixth and finally a seventh alarm. Seven hours afterthe arrival of the first companies, fire started venting out of the roof. Some 36 hours from the initial dispatch, units were still on scene. - Fire News photo by Peter Danzo

FireNews.com

Fire News, July 2022, Page 9 Asphalt TrailerBlaze in Lawrence Township

Firefighters in Lawrence Township, MercerCounty, utilized foam to extinguish a fire involving an asphalt traileron May 23, 2022. It was 1733, when Lawrenceville Fire (Station 23) was dispatched to the Red Roof Inn on Brunswick Pike forwhat was initially reported to be a rubbish fire. Acolumn of black smoke was looming in the distance as Lawrence Township Deputy Chief Ray Nagy responded. As a result, additional apparatus was dispatched from the Lawrence Road (Station 22) and Slackwood (Station 21) fire companies. Arriving to find the bed of an asphalt trailerablaze in the parking lot, firefighters deployed foam via a Pro/Pak injectorconnected to a 1-3/4 inch hoseline stretched from Rescue 22. As a result, the fire was quickly knocked down. - Fire News photo by Michael Ratcliffe

The volunteerfire companies of Mays Landing and Cologne responded to Harding Highway forthe report of an MVAand fire on April 16, 2022, at 1636. Mays Landing Assistant Chief Ken Badger, Jr., arrived to find a utility truck into the woodlands on fire and spreading. Command had Mays Landing Tender1819 stretch theirfront bumperlines and attack the fire. New Jersey Forest Fire Unit C-7, C-25, C-5 and C-35 arrived on location and extinguished the woodland fire. The cause of the crash was underinvestigation by the Township of Hamilton Police. Also responding was Township of Hamilton EMS. - Fire News photos by Ken Badger

MVA Starts Woodland Fire

Ejection at Cologne Overturn MVA

The volunteerfire companies of Cologne and Mays Landing along with EMS and police responded to New York Avenue across from Harding Run II on April 20, 2022, at 1735, fora report of an MVAwith rollover. Firefighters arrived to find a passengervehicle on its side against a tree and obscured by its branches with its occupants ejected into the woodlands. Firefighters assisted EMS with treating and removal of victims, while otherfirefighters checked the vehicle forotherpossibly entrapped occupants, removing the battery and using extrication tools to move the vehicle off the tree. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Township of Hamilton Police.

- Fire News photos by Ken Badger

EasterSunday Plane Crash

On EasterSunday, April 17, 2022, the Fairfield Fire Department responded to the Essex County Airport fora plane crash. A2020 Citation CJ3 was attempting to land when it overshot the runway and slid down an embankment into a brook. The three occupants were uninjured but the 400 gallons of jet fuel was spilling into the waterway. Nutley Fire HazMat responded to the scene as a dam was created downstream. West Caldwell responded with an engine and a rescue to assist with booms forthe water. Crews remained on scene forthe evening as a tow company removed the plane from the water. - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

Bargaintown Sets Up LZ

The Bargaintown VolunteerFire Company responded to the Egg HarborTownship High School on May 9, 2022, to set up an LZ forthe South StarMedical Helicoptercalled to transport a burn victim. - Fire News photo by William McFarland

Barge Fire on Delaware Bay

Abarge hauling junked household appliances caught fire May 23, 2022, on the Delaware Bay just off the coast of Fortescue around 0100. Afterburning for26 hours the fire was extinguished and the barge was towed to Camden. - Fire News photo by William Cripps

Atlantic Auto Salvage Yard Blaze

Multiple fire companies from Hamilton and Galloway townships were dispatched to Atlantic Auto Salvage on Route 50 on May 12, 2022, for a report of a structure fire. First arriving units reported a large pile of debris burning and quickly changed the assignment. Awatertender task force was used to fight the fire with engines from South Egg Harborfighting the fire on the Route 50 side and Cologne’s toweron the County Boulevard side. The fire was declared undercontrol in fourhours. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

East Orange Church Fire

On April 18, 2022, East Orange companies were dispatched to a church on Stueben Street for a fire. Quint 2 arrived to smoke showing from a two-story church. Car3 arrived and transmitted a second alarm, bringing all East Orange companies to the scene along with a Bloomfield engine. Heavy fire began to run the top floor and show from the vents on the alpha side. At this time all crews were ordered out of the building. Truck 2 conducted vertical ventilation while Quint 2 used its ladderpipe to knock down fire in the attic space. ACascade unit from Bloomfield was also requested to the scene to fill airbottles as crews re-entered the interiorto continue suppression.

Page 16, Fire News, July 2022 Paterson Apartment

Fire Stopped

On April 18, 2022, the Paterson Fire Department responded to a two-story apartment building set back in an alley on GovenourStreet and found smoke and fire showing from windows on the Alpha-Delta corner. Aworking fire was transmitted and two lines were stretched, containing the fire to the original apartment. Searches proved negative and lines were being picked up as the fire was placed undercontrol within 20 minutes. This was one of the first fires forthe brand new Ferrara RAC Unit. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Nutley MVA into Pole

On April 18, 2022, the Nutley Fire Department responded to East Passaic Avenue fora carversus pole MVA. Engine 1 and Ladder1 arrived to a single-vehicle MVAand a snapped utility pole. EMS-1 transported one patient to Mountianside while the roadway was shut down for PSE&Gto replace the pole. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Cologne MVA

The volunteerfire companies of Cologne and Mays Landing along with Township of Hamilton Police and EMS were dispatched on May 2, 2022, at 0451, fora report of an MVAat BrewsterDrive and West Jersey Avenue. The call was upgraded to a rolloverwith entrapment that added Laureldale to the assignment. Firefighters arrived to a passengervehicle on its side, driver’s side down. Firefighters stabilized the vehicle before removing the occupant with EMS treating and transporting the patient to Atlanticare Trauma Center, Atlantic City Campus. The cause of the crash was underinvestigation by township police. Also responding were Atlanticare Paramedics. - Fire News photo by Ken Badger

Quick Mulch Fire Knockdown

The volunteerfire companies of Cardiff and Farmington responded to the 6600 block of the Black Horse Pike on May 30, 2022, fora report of a mulch fire. One line was used to knock down the fire. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Nutley Brush Fire

On March 29, 2022, Nutley Engine 1 and Ladder1 responded to High Street forreports of a large amount of smoke coming from a house. Companies arrived to smoke in the area and found a large brush fire in the rearof multiple homes. Two handlines were stretched to the top and bottom of the hill to extinguish the fire. Extensive overhaul was needed forthe area and crews remained on scene fornearly an hour. - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

The Egg HarborTownship Fire Department in Atlantic County held theirannual staged mock crash drill forthe high school students on May 26, 2022. The demonstration is held annually just before prom time to point out the perils of drunk and impaired driving. - Fire News photos courtesy Chief Wally Bakeley

Annual Staged Crash Drill

Budd Lake CarFire

Recently, calls came in fora carfire in the parking lot on Clark Drive in Budd Lake. FM-3 arrived and was followed by Cars 50, 51 and 52. Engine 59 arrived and stretched a 1-¾ inch handline and had the fire knocked down within 15 minutes. There were no injuries and the ownersaid he had some work done on the car. - Fire News photo by A/C Kevin J. Maloney; Budd Lake FC

AC Fire School Underway

Atlantic County Fire School Training with the most basic training in the use of hose, hose lays, and storage. - Fire News photos by Dennis C. Sharpe

New Apparatus, New Firehouse

On April 30, 2022, the Holmdel Fire Rescue Company 2 held a dedication ceremony fortheirnew 2021 Pierce EnforcerEngine 18-77. Companies from across Central Jersey came out to the new firehouse on Crawfords CornerRoad forthe dedication ceremony forthe new truck and building. Live music was played by Not Leaving Soberas food and drinks were serve while visitors toured the new station and engine. \ - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti