Editorial

From the Editor’s Desk

Dennis Whittam, Editor I Want to Be AFirefighter!

Over the past few years, I have met many new volunteer firefighters that soon develop aspirations to become members of a paid department. In my volunteer department, a few members have applied to fire departments in other states and met their requirements. The reason they were accepted to out of state departments was because they did their homework and worked hard to meet the requirements that were posted for the job.

Afirefighting career field is very competitive. If you apply to a department like the FDNY, you quickly learn you are competing against thousands of applicants for very few available jobs. I read that over 46,000 people applied for the FDNYtest in 2017. I was stunned when I read this number. The best candidates think of their minimum score on this exam as above 90 percent. You can increase your chances of getting a high grade if you have military experience and live in New York City. Hence, the challenges of becoming a NYC firefighter have encouraged people to look to other states for possible acceptance into their fire departments. This is where you must pay attention to every aspect of the requirements stated on the application form.

Recently, I asked a young energetic volunteer firefighter if he applied to a nearby state for a posted test to become a firefighter. His answer was a quiet no! One of the requirements on the application was that applicants needed to be an EMT. My response was, “Why not become an EMTin your current department and get some experience to add to your application?” I never got a response to my question.

If you are serious about any occupation, be the best you can be and do more than what is expected of you. Exceed any education requirements. Also, as a volunteer firefighter, think of getting as many certifications as you can. If national certifications are available, take the additional tests. Speak with your local fire academy to find out about additional certifications that may help you stand out above other applicants.

Are you in tip-top shape? Remember, if you pass the written test, you still must pass a Physical Ability Test. The agility tests are no joke. The test has many parts, and you are not going to pass them unless you prepare yourself for their grueling nature. Military experience helps with understanding how to prepare for these tests.

Congratulations, you did well on the written test, and you passed the physical test. Guess what, you’re not finished. You must pass an interview that investigates your past. Whatever you do, do not lie during this interview. Start to prepare for this part of the exam by reviewing your social media page. If you have inappropriate posts, remove them. GroupMe posts can come back to haunt you.

My best advice to anyone interested in becoming a paid firefighter is to talk to the people that have walked the path before you. Study, work out, and set an example for others to follow. And while you are waiting for your chance to shine, think about joining the armed forces. Think of it as preparation for the greatest job in the world! - Dennis

Fire News Donates $50,000 to Charities

In May, Fire News held a charitable awards event donating a total of $50,000 to five fire-EMS-related charities. The commitment to donate the funds was made by Fire News publisher Frank C. Trotta when the Fire News 9/11 20th Anniversary Issue was released last fall.

Publisher Frank C. Trotta and Chief Operating Officer Tim Edwards presented $10,000 checks to the charities, noting that the, “Five charities continue to contribute in a positive way to families affected by the devasting effects of 9/11.”

The charities chosen work on a national basis include: The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Foundation, The Ray Pfeifer Foundation, Firefighter Cancer Support Network - NYChapter and The FealGood Foundation.

Close to 200 people attended including chiefs, commisioners and members from many departments, state and local government officials and others. It was highlighted by the Ceremonial Color Guard provided by the Fire Chiefs Council of Suffolk County and former FDNYChief of Department Tom Richardson as the key note speaker.

“I’d like to thank the Fire News editorial and sales staff for their roundthe-clock work producing the issue, our photographers who donated their images and our advertisers who supported the issue,” said Trotta.

Thank you to the South County Ambulance Company for generously providing their facilities, hospitality and to all of their members who volunteered their time to help. - Fire News photos by Ron Monteleone &Bryan Lopez

Page 6, Fire News, September2022 Cover Story Rescues Made at ThreeAlarm Trenton Blaze

Two squatters were rescued from what was supposed to be a vacant apartment complex during a three-alarm blaze in the state capital on June 10, 2022. Firefighters of the Trenton Fire Department’s C Platoon were on duty when, at about 0025, a 911 call was received reporting smoke issuing from a row of boarded-up apartment houses on North Clinton Avenue at Monmouth Street. The initial dispatch included Engines 10, 6 and 1, Ladder4, Rescue 1 and Battalion Chief Dave Smolka (South Battalion). Crews arrived to smoke showing from the front of one of the middle buildings of what had once been the Clinton Court Apartments. The second and third floors at the building’s rearwere then found to be heavily involved. The all-hands signal was transmitted and Engine 7, Ladder1, Special Services 1 and Battalion Chief Terry Mulryne (North Battalion) were dispatched. A second alarm, sending Engine 9 and Ladder2 to the scene, was called at 0037. The two squatters were rescued from the third floorvia ground ladderand transported to hospital by Trenton EMS fortreatment of smoke inhalation. Multiple hoselines and masterstreams, including Ladder4’s aerial monitorand Engine 10’s deck gun, were put in service to prevent flames from spreading to the attached exposures. The incident was elevated to a third alarm shortly after0130, when Deputy Chief Anthony Moran called foran additional engine company (Engine 8) and laddercompany (Hamilton Township Truck 13) to the scene. One minor firefighterinjury was reported before the blaze was officially declared undercontrol at 0450. Trenton’s only remaining on-duty company, Engine 3 — which had been out of service during much of the fire due to an injury to a memberthat occurred during a fire alarm response — was eventually called to the fireground for relief purposes. - Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe

Recently, the Wharton Fire Department was dispatched to a home on Maple Terrace. Wharton Chief 1 arrived and reported a working fire. Crews from Doverand Wharton stretched a line in and started hitting fire when a partial roof collapse forced out units and Picatinny Arsenal’s Ladderset up and knocked down the bulk of the fire. Crews then regrouped and went back in and continued to overhaul. Rockaway Township was also added to the assignment and assisted with waterand overhaul. The fire was brought undercontrol within an hour. There were reports of two people treated forsmoke inhalation. The fire was underinvestigation by Wharton Police. Atlantic EMS and the Morris County MERVunit were on scene providing rehab. - Fire News photos by A/C Kevin J. Maloney; Budd Lake FC

Collapse at Wharton Fire

Prospect Park Fire Goes to 5 Alarms

At approximately 1130 on July 22, 2022, the Prospect Park Fire Department was dispatched to North 11th Street directly next to theirfirehouse. Upon arrival Chief Struyk transmitted a second alarm fortwo 2-1/2 story frame structures heavily involved on division 2. With ambient temperatures in the 100s it was quite a challenge forfirefighters. Numerous mutual aid companies were dispatched to the scene, and the fire went to five alarms. - Fire News photos by Ronald Bombaro and Michael Saggau, Jr.

The Paterson Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Arch Street fora report of a fire inside a commercial warehouse converted to a church. Asecond alarm was transmitted a few minutes afterarrival and the fire eventually went to three alarms.

- Fire News photos by Michael Saggau, Jr.

Paterson Church Fire 3-Alarmer

Extrication, Medevac on Rte. 206/Rte. 80

Budd Lake Fire Company responded fora carinto a tree on the extension ramp of Route 206 to Route 80 East. Car51 and 52 arrived and requested medics and a helicopteron standby fora person trapped. Rescue 55 arrived and removed the roof and steering wheel from the carto remove the person. Atlantic EMS and medics along with Atlantic Helicoptertook the person to the hospital in serious condition. - Fire News photos by A/C Kevin J. Maloney; Budd Lake FC

Relay Pumping Drill in West Essex

On June 11, 2022, the West Essex Fire Officers Association hosted a relay pumping drill, designed to simulate establishing a large-scale relay operation. In virtually all of ourcommunities large lightweight construction projects are being built, and with them comes the need for high volume wateroperations and potentially long hose lays to tap secondary sources of waterwhetherit is drafting, largermains, ordifferent watersystems entirely. Many recent fires in and around NJ have required high volumes of waterreinforcing the need to be proficient in setting up relay operations. This drill used 100 feet each of three-inch and five-inch hose between apparatus, simulating the friction loss of laying 1000 feet of five-inch hose. This method allows foran efficient drill without exhausting manpower. North Caldwell, Fairfield, Verona, Essex Fells, Roseland, and CedarGrove fire departments attended the drill, during which 1000gpm was flowed overa simulated one mile of hose. - Fire News photos and story by Brian Wlodawski

Brielle Wetdown

On May 21, 2022, the Brielle Fire Company held a wetdown fortheir new Seagrave Engine. Live music was played while food and drinks were served to attendees as fire departments from Monmouth and Ocean came to wetdown the engine which in turn led to a waterfight between engine companies. - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

Looking Back

Ocean City - 2015

Ocean City Dispatch received a call on November19, 2015, fora warehouse fire. Access to the seat of the fire was made difficult by the steel construction of the building and anotherextremely dangerous condition … the electrical service had fused itself to the metal building, energizing it. - Fire News photo by Robert Macom

Westmont - 2015

On Thanksgiving night, November26, 2015, a dwelling fire was reported in Westmont on Emerald Avenue. EMS treated and transported a resident to the hospital forminorinjuries. Three lines were placed in operation as the fire was knocked down and placed undercontrol. - Fire News photo by Ted Aurig

Paterson - 2015

Paterson firefighters had theirhands full on the night of November9, 2015, when they were dispatched fora building fire in the area of an abandoned 1895-built, city-block-sized armory on Market Street. The armory was three to fourstories high and had been abandoned in 1990. As time went on, command requested fifth, sixth and finally a seventh alarm. Seven hours afterthe arrival, fire started venting out of the roof. Some 36 hours from the initial dispatch units remained on the scene. - Fire News photo by Peter Danzo

Page 18, Fire News, September2022 Up Close & Personal

FirefighterVinny Autieri of Paterson Engine Company 4. - Fire News photo by Michael Saggau, Jr. Scott Feldman at the watertenderexercise on July 31, 2022, supervising the fill site. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe West Milford’s Firefighter David and his wife. - Fire News photo by Chris ‘Doc’Denton

Members of the Jefferson Township Fire Company 1. - Fire News photo by Chris ‘Doc’Denton

Juniorfirefighters from Harrington Park pose with T-Rex the dinosaurat the wetdown forHarrington Park’s new ladderand new engine. - Fire News photo by Chris ‘Doc’Denton

Members of UpperGreenwood Lake Fire Company 5 (West Milford) Ladies Auxiliary at the Engine 5 wetdown. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

FireNews.com

Fire News, September2022, Page 19 Not the Right Way to Drive-Thru

The Paterson Fire Department, operated at a vehicle off the roadway through a fence and down into Checkers Drive-Thru at West Broadway and Union Avenue. There was no entrapment. - Fire News photo by Ronald Bombaro

Trenton Firefighters Handle Blaze Just Beyond City Border

Trenton firefighters made quick work of extinguishing a blaze involving both sides of a duplex during the evening of June 20, 2022. It was 2156 when Trenton companies were dispatched to Brunswick Avenue and Spruce Street in response to multiple 911 calls reporting heavy smoke coming from a residence. Firefighters arrived to heavy fire showing from the rearof homes on Spruce Street. That part of Spruce Street forms the border between Trenton and Lawrence Township and the side the fire was on was located in Lawrence. Lawrence’s three volunteerfire companies were alerted to the blaze at 2159. When they arrived, Trenton firefighters had three 1.75-inch hoselines in service and a watersupply established and the bulk of the fire already knocked down. - Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe

AC 3-Car MVA

The Atlantic City Fire Department responded to Kentucky and Marmora Avenues fora three-carMVA. Rescue 1 arrived and established command and reported all occupants out of the vehicles. Firefighters stood by until the arrival of police. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

MontclairMixed-Use Fire Snuffed

On May 10, 2022, afterclearing a multi-fatal MVAfrom a police chase in Glen Ridge, MontclairFire Companies responded to a residential-over-commercial building on Bloomfield Avenue fora reported building fire. Crews arrived to smoke showing from the bottom floors and command transmitted the second alarm. The fire was located in a restaurant on the bottom flooras mutual aid from Bloomfield, East Orange and West Orange responded directly to the scene. The fire was knocked down within 20 minutes with no extension to the upperfloors. House coverage was provided by Clifton, Orange and Caldwell. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Neptune Shed Fire

On May 18, 2022, the Neptune Fire Department responded to a reported fire on FisherAvenue after seeing smoke in the distance. Engine 34-75 arrived to find fire showing from a detached shed in the rear and a line was stretched. The fire was quickly knocked down as companies from all Neptune stations were dispatched along with a RITfrom Tinton Falls and a mutual aid engine from Long Branch. Mutual aid was quickly returned as the assignment was downgraded to 3 engines as there was no extension passed the shed. - Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

LZ Duty in Toms River

On June 7, 2022, the Toms River’s East DoverFire Company secured a landing zone forRWJ LIfeflight to transport a gunshot victim to Jersey Shore Medical Center.

- Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department 2022 Inspection

Forthe first time in two years, the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department stood forInspection forthe Borough of Hasbrouck Heights. All department members worked during the week washing, scrubbing and cleaning every piece of apparatus, cleaning all the tools and organizing all the cabinets to be sure that everything was in place. They cleaned the fire house from top to bottom. The Department Inspection was led by Chief Tim Moots, First Assistant Chief Kevin Todd and Second Assistant Chief Mike Greco. - Fire News photo by Justin Watrell

Old Tappan Scores FEMA Grant for Radios

The Old Tappan VolunteerFire Department recently received 26 new state of the art Handie-Talkies. The department’s current HandieTalkies were 20-years old orolderand had little in the way of inter-operability capability with otherfire departments and the otheremergency services. The new models have greatly enhanced inter-operability, which will allow the department to quickly and effectively communicate with otherdepartments with whom they work at majorfires oremergencies. They also include a safety feature on each unit’s channel selectorswitch of defaulting to the critical fire ground channel in eitherthe full left or right position. Any firefighterin trouble in low visibility orblacked out conditions of interiorfirefighting will only have to turn the selector switch full right orleft to know he’s transmitting his situation on the always monitored Fire Ground Channel. The new Handie-Talkies were acquired with a FEMA(Federal Emergency Management Agency) Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which was prepared and submitted by Chief of Department Evan Kutzin, who thanked Congressman Josh Gottheimer, (NJ 5th CD), who was very helpful in obtaining the grant. - Fire News story and photos courtesy of William J. Auth; Publicity Chm.

Quick Stop forPleasantville

The City of Pleasantville Fire Department in Atlantic County responded to Chalfont Avenue on July 23, 2022, fora report of an outdoorfire extending to a structure. Deputy Chief Chad Warmoth arrived and declared a working fire, bringing mutual aid from surrounding companies. Engine 1 and Tower1 firefighters attacked the fire while Engine 2 ran a supply line. The fire was brought undercontrol quickly and was being investigated by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. - Fire News photos by Dennis C. Sharpe

Onsite Visit - Brick Township JuniorFire Camp

On July 11, 2022, the NFSAMid Atlantic Team was honored by being asked to present the fundamentals of fire sprinklers to the fire cadets of Brick Township. What a fantastic group! Everyone had amazing questions and were very engaged. The group of fire cadets had a week-long camp from July 11 to July 15, 2022, jam packed with fire department related activities where they learned about what a firefighterdoes. This included fire station tours, fire service history, vehicle extrication, NJ Forest Fire Service demo, NJ Division of Fire Safety K-9 demonstrations, fire sprinklertraining, waterrescue and EMS training. Programs like these are instrumental in laying the future foundation of the fire service. Volunteer numbers are down drastically and the lack of interest in the youngerage brackets is concerning. It is programs like the Brick Township Fire Camp that will light a spark in the kids that will continue to grow as they get olderand ultimately keep the fire service alive. Thank you, Brick Township, forall yourhard work and dedication to the youngergenerations and the vested interest in the future of the NJ firefighter.

- Fire News story and photos courtesy David. J. Davis; NJ State Coordinator