News
Electrical fire damages Englewood home
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
THE RECORD
ENGLEWOOD — An electrical fire broke out in the second-floor bathroom of a Robin Road home Wednesday, sending more than 30 firefighters to help fight the blaze.
The residents, who were home at the time, heard a smoke detector around 12:35 p.m. and contacted the fire department after seeing a plume of smoke in the bathroom, Acting Chief Gerald Marion said Wednesday.
No one was injured, and firefighters were able to knock down the blaze in about 20 minutes, he said.
The fire was accidental in nature and may have been the result of faulty wiring, he said.
The 2½-story wood frame home sustained smoke damage.
— Giovanna Fabiano
20 evacuated in Englewood fire
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
BY ALLISON PRIES
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD – A three-alarm fire broke out on the second floor of a five-story apartment building this morning.
Mutual aid firefighters from surrounding towns combated the three-alarm fire and helped contain the flames to a bedroom on the second floor.
It started in and was contained to a bedroom, Deputy Fire Chief Gerald Marion said.
The fire went to three alarms because of the high temperatures today, heavy smoke and the size of the building, he said.
About 20 were evacuated and fire personnel did an extensive search of the building. No one was injured.
Jennifer Rogers, 27, said she was in her bedroom when she smelled smoke. The mother of two went into her bathroom to investigate and saw black smoke billowing up from the apartment below hers. She pulled the fire alarm to alert other residents and fled with her 4- and 5-year-old children. "The fire alarm goes off sometimes, more as a precaution. But this time it was real fire," Rogers said, as she waited outside the building. "I'm glad my kids were prepared."
Approximately 20 people were evacuated from an apartment building on James Street in Englewood.
Power was cut to the affected apartment and the one below, because of water damage. But residents are expected to be allowed back inside later today.
E-mail: priesa@northjersey.com
3-alarm house fire shuts streets near downtown Englewood
Saturday, August 28, 2010
LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY AUGUST 28, 2010, 9:15 PM
BY STEPHANIE AKIN
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD — A three-alarm house fire shut down five streets near downtown as firefighters from multiple departments battled the blaze well into the afternoon Saturday.
STEVE HOCKSTEIN/SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
Firefighters from Englewood and surrounding towns fight a smokey, three-alarm blaze in a dwelling at 13 James St. in Englewood on Saturday afternoon.
No injuries were reported at the house, at 13 James St., which was apparently unoccupied, Englewood Fire Chief Robert Moran said. The cause of the blaze was still under investigation, Moran said.
The house is one of 13 properties on James Street that belong to the Rochelle Park-based developer GLF Realty, according to tax records.
The company, associated with ShopRite of Englewood, has been trying to get city approval for a controversial proposal to rezone the street to allow for a 22,000-square-foot addition to the ShopRite, an additional 48 customer parking spots, and new multi-family housing units on the street.
Irving Glass, a principal of GLF Realty, said the fire supports his company's point that its redevelopment plan would improve the neighborhood.
"It just points out that the housing in that particular area of town was built a long time ago, and that clearly housing that's more in code would be beneficial to the town," Glass said.
An initial call for the fire came at 1:40 p.m. Saturday, but by the time firefighters arrived, the flames had spread to the first and second floors in the rear of the building.
Emergency workers said the aging wood-frame structure was burning too quickly and too hot for firefighters to attempt to extinguish the fire from inside.
"An old house like that, that type of construction, once they get started, they burn very hot and they burn for a while," Englewood Fire Inspector Anthony Culmone said.
Several streets surrounding the fire were closed for hours Saturday afternoon, and several nearby retail stores were also temporarily evacuated as the blaze was contained. At 5 p.m., West Palisade Avenue eastbound was open, while officials expected to open other streets soon.
The James Street home was less than a block from West Palisade Avenue, a main shopping strip, and not much farther from the Englewood firehouse.
Shoppers, store employees and nearby residents gathered on the corner throughout the afternoon, drawn by billows of black smoke that at one point engulfed the neighborhood.
"I saw lots of smoke," said Krish Patel, who works at Junior's Mini Mart on the corner of Palisades Avenue and James Street. "It looked like 9/11."
Dwayne Humes said he came outside to investigate after he heard the sirens and smelled burning wood from his Hillside Avenue home. By the time he arrived at the scene, the shake roof had already caved in, and two firefighters were monitoring the blaze from the basket at the top of the ladder truck.
"As long as no one got hurt, that's what matters," he said.
GLF Realty bought the property for $300,000 in 1997, according to tax records. Dozens of residents spoke out against the company's rezoning proposal at a July 8 public hearing, saying the street is too narrow to support the traffic that new housing would bring to the neighborhood. The city is still compiling data on the proposal.
Moran described the structure as a "multiple family dwelling," but said the building had been vacated before the fire. He could not immediately say why.
Fourteen firetrucks and six town fire departments responded to the incident. Three more departments also remained on call.
E-mail: akin@northjersey.com
Englewood honors fallen soldiers
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY JUNE 3, 2010, 12:57 PM
BY MIKE CURLEY
NORTHERN VALLEY SUBURBANITE
STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD — City residents gathered to remember fallen service men and women Monday as the Memorial Day parade made its way through Englewood.
The Memorial Day service began shortly after 10 a.m. Monday at the Englewood World War Memorial on Palisade Avenue. Residents gathered under the cloudless sky at the four corners surrounding the memorial for the service.
Local volunteer Olga Mosciaro welcomed everyone to the ceremony, and recognized the various community groups contributing, before she introduced Pastor John Givens of Shilo AME-Zion Church, who led the crowd in the invocation, thanking those gathered for putting the day aside to remember those who sacrificed their lives.
Afterward, Officer Steve Ford of the Englewood Police Department led the Police and Fire Department Honor Guards in presenting their colors and Chief Arthur O'Keefe led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. A local student then sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and Dwight-Englewood student Alexis Inguaggiato read "In Flanders Field."
Mayor Frank Huttle then made his remarks, welcoming the residents, as well as city officials including members of the city council and Board of Education. He also thanked Mosciaro for her work in organizing the Memorial Day events, saying she has devoted herself to making sure the city recognizes the occasion with pride and dignity.
Huttle also introduced the two grand marshals for the parade, Emmette H. Cusberth, Sr., who served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Steward-Mate and fireman from 1945 to 1947, and Alvin McKinney, Sr., who served as a medical assistant in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947.
He thanked both men for their service and presented them with proclamations.
Next, the Englewood Honor Roll, the list of all the soldiers from the city lost in combat, was read, with the drum line from Dwight Morrow High School providing a drum roll.
The service continued with several pieces of music. First, John Escobar of the Englewood Fire Department played "Amazing Grace" on the bag pipes, followed by a volley from the Englewood Police Honor Guard, while Gary Hollander, band director at Dwight Morrow High School, played "Taps" on the trumpet.
A cappella group the Blue Chip Chorus sang a medley of patriotic songs, including "America, America" and "God Bless America" and youth from the Community Korean Church of New Jersey sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Finally, Pastor Koo Young of the Community Korean Church provided the benediction.
The Police and Fire Department Honor Guards then retired their colors and the parade began with a firing of a cannon by Mott's Artillery Company, and the flag was raised from half-mast.
Vehicles from the Englewood Police and Fire Departments and a pair of military vehicles led the parade.
E-mail: curley@northjersey.com
Firefighter Darius Hunt
It is with deep regret and sorrow to announce the death of Firefighter Darius Hunt. FF Hunt a 15-year Veteran died on Sunday April 4, 2010 in a tragic motorcycle accident. FF Hunt was married with two children. Visitation and services will be held on Thursday April 8 between the hours of 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Location will be Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium on the Campus of Dwight Morrow High School 274 Knickerbocker Rd
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Darius Hunt began his service with the City of Englewood in 1994 as a member of the city’s Department of Public Works. He transferred to the Fire Department in 1995 where he has served as a firefighter for the past 15 years. Firefighter Hunt was a member of the departments Hazardous Material team, Special Operations unit, and the Mid Bergen Hazardous Material team.
During his career FF Hunt received a Unit Citation in 1999 for his actions during tropical Storm Floyd, a Heroism award in 2000 for his rescue of residents trapped by floodwaters during the storm, and a Heroism Award in 2004 for assisting with the rescue of a firefighter who became trapped in a house fire while conducting interior fire suppression operations.
In addition, FF Hunt served in the United States Navy from 1987 until his honorable discharge in 1992. During his term in the Navy he was assigned to the USS Iowa and was cited for bravery during the 1991 explosion and fire which occurred on board the vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico.
“Firefighter Hunt was a dedicated member of the Englewood Fire Department and community, who, on more than one occasion placed himself in extreme danger to rescue city residents and fellow firefighters at emergency incidents. His devotion to his duties, his fellow firefighters, his family, and his friends will be truly missed”.
Storm Response March 2010
During the weekend of March 13 & 14 the northeast region of New Jersey was devastated by one of the most severe rain and wind storms to strike the area in decades. Beginning on Saturday morning at approximately 0800 hours the on duty members of the department were called to numerous storm related incidents. As the weather intensified during the day the calls for assistance began to become more frequent and hazardous in nature. At 1752 hours a full department recall was initiated for all off duty members to return to quarters. For the next 48 hours the Englewood Fire Department responded to over 260 fire related emergency incidents and 24 requests for emergency medical assistance. To put these numbers into perspective, this translates into responding to a typical one month total of alarms in one 48 hour period. Included in these requests for assistance were responses to downed trees, downed power lines, trees into homes with structural damage, flooded basements, and other hazardous conditions. The Department also responded to two mutual aid requests in Fort Lee; one for the special operations/collapse unit for a wall collapse into a stairwell with possible trapped victims, and another for a double fatal fire in the southern portion of their town. In addition to this request the department also responded on a mutual aid request as the Rapid Intervention Crew to Tenafly at the scene of a working house fire.
On Saturday night representatives of the Englewood fire department along with the Englewood police, DPW, health and building departments opened the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to facilitate the coordination of the city’s emergency response to the devastating storm. Opening the operations center provided an ideal platform from which the city’s emergency response team was able to effectively triage the tremendous number of service requests inundating the individual departments dispatch centers. Coordinating an effective response and mitigation plan to these requests was the primary mission of the EOC throughout the night.
On Sunday, the fire department was notified of a loss of power at a United Water pumping station that resulted in the loss of residential and fire protection water pressure in most eastern Bergen County communities. With no water in many of the fire hydrants within the city the department acted proactively by immediately contacting the Bergen County mutual aid coordinator to request the response of a water tanker into the city. Members of the Mahwah Fire Department Company #4 responded to Englewood on this mutual aid request with their 2500 gallon tanker. These personnel arrived at approximately 1500 hours on Sunday and remained in the city for a 24 hour period during which they responded to numerous calls as the primary water supply for fire suppression operations. The City is forever indebted to the members of the Mahwah Fire Company #4 for their rapid and competent response to our request for assistance.
Once again the members of the Englewood Fire Department effectively and professionally responded to all requests for service from our residents and neighboring communities under extremely hazardous conditions for an extended period of time. While this long term incident taxed the members both physically and mentally they acted in the highest traditions of the Englewood Fire Department by offering prompt, professional, and outstanding service throughout.
Special Operations Response to Fort Lee
On Saturday March 13 at 1730 hours the Englewood Fire Department received a request for mutual aid assistance from the Fort Lee fire department for the response of the Special Operations team to a wall collapse with possible trapped victims at the Southpole office building located at 22 Bridge Plaza South. Upon arrival at the incident Chief Moran and Rescue 1 Lieutenant David Haenelt conducted a quick size up of the incident. This investigation revealed a delivery vehicle had lost its brakes and rolled across Center Avenue into an exterior stairwell dividing wall. This caused large pieces of concrete, cement block, and decorative stone from the wall to collapse into a stairwell leading to the underground parking area for the building. In addition, a large section of the wall remained free hanging over the collapse area causing a sever hazard to responding personnel. Along with the officers of the Fort Lee fire department an incident action plan that included securing the compromised wall section, breaking/breaching and removing the concrete, and the removal of the parking garage door for victim access was developed and placed into action. Recognizing this incident would require additional resources Chief Moran requested the response of the Bergen Regional Special Operations Task Force assets from the Bergenfield Fire Department. This response included manpower, an additional heavy rescue, and the Bergen Regional equipment trailer. During the incident Englewood and Fort Lee firefighters with assistance from the Edgewater and Leonia Fire Departments operated at ground level to remove the section of compromised wall and the large concrete sections within the stairwell. Manpower from the Fort Lee and Bergenfield fire departments operated below ground from the parking garage area. Numerous specialized tools including pak-hammers, saws, electric jack hammers, and a telescoping search camera were utilized during the search and debris removal operation. Once all debris was removed and confirmation made that no victims were located in the collapse area, the Fort Lee incident commander placed the incident under control and all units were released from the scene.
Fire prompts evacuation of Englewood church
On Wednesday March 10, 2010 at 2144 hours the Englewood Fire Department received a central station fire alarm for the Korean Community Church/School located at 147 Tenafly Road. Upon arrival at the scene the Platoon Commander John McLoughlin reported nothing showing from a large two story wood frame structure containing the administrative offices for the church/school. As the engine and truck companies began to arrive a smoke condition began to show from the roof line and second floor windows of the building. At this point the interior team from the truck company initiated a primary search for victims and the location of the fire within the building. Additional truck company members placed ground ladders, and set up the tower ladder for possible use.
As this was being accomplished the engine companies established a supply line from a nearby hydrant and a 2” attack line was stretched to the front door of the facility. During their search for fire and victims the truck company found a fire involving a closet and combustible items in a rear second floor office. The engine company advanced their attack line to the fire area and was able to extinguish the fire prior to any extension into other areas of the building. Other platoon members and Englewood firefighters returning to duty on the second alarm completed ventilation and laddering of the building during the incident. Mutual Aid responding to the scene consisted of a Teaneck engine, Fort Lee truck, and a Tenafly truck as the rapid intervention company (RIC).
Companies covering in Fire Headquarters consisted of a Bergenfield truck, Fort Lee engine, and an Englewood Cliffs engine along with additional Englewood firefighters returning on the second alarm. The fire was declared under control approximately 20 minutes after arrival. The origin of the fire was within the second floor closet, the cause has been determined to be electrical in nature.
Mutual Aid Response to Structure Fire
1296 Inwood Terrace Fort Lee, NJ
On Saturday February 27 Truck 1 responded as the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) to a structure fire at 1296 Inwood Terrace in Fort Lee. The fire was located in the ceiling of a first floor bedroom of a 2 story ordinary constructed garden apartment approximately 100’ x 25’ in size. While standing by at the scene as the RIC, the truck company was reassigned to interior pre-control overhaul operations to search for fire extension in the second floor apartment and attic. Englewood firefighters opened up the interior walls of the apartment and along with engine company members from Fort Lee and other mutual aid resources were able to control and extinguish the fire.
Mutual Aid Response to Major Building Collapse
15 Piermont Road Tenafly, NJ
At 1112 hours on Friday February 26, the Tenafly Fire Department requested mutual aid assistance from the Englewood Fire Department for a major roof collapse of a supermarket at 15 Piermont Road. Based on initial reports of persons trapped within the rubble an additional request was made for the response of the Bergen Regional Special Operations Team. This task force type team consists of assets from the Englewood, Bergenfield, Tenafly, Fort Lee, and Dumont Fire Departments who respond to specialized incidents such as building collapses, confined space incidents, trench rescues, and rope rescues with pre-designated apparatus and equipment. Upon arrival at the incident Englewood Fire Chief Moran was designated as the Special Operations Commander by the Incident Commander Tenafly Chief Richard Philpott and the Operations Officer, Deputy Chief Harvey Eisner also of the Tenafly Fire Department. Per incident command guidelines Tenafly Fire had established a unified command post at the scene prior to arrival of mutual aid companies. This greatly assisted with command and control of the overall incident. 
Upon arrival the Tenafly companies were confronted with the total collapse of the truss roof of a one-story 120’ x 50’ supermarket. In a typical bowstring truss collapses scenario the B and D side exterior walls of the building had also been pushed outward thus creating the severe potential for a secondary collapse of the bearing walls. Upon arrival of the Bergen Regional team, the Task Force Leader, Lieutenant Jim Kirsch of the Bergenfield Fire Department assumed control of the task force resources. A unified meeting was held between the incident commander, representatives of the special operations team, and the Deputy County Fire Coordinator Jack Murphy at which an incident action plan (IAP) was developed and put into place.
Based on the need to complete a thorough search of the entire structure the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue Task Force a specialized rescue unit that operates under the authority of the New Jersey State Police was requested to send an Incident Support Team (IST) to the scene. This IST consists of technical and canine search personnel, structural engineers, a safety officer, and several rescue personnel. The unit also carries a multitude of specialized equipment and apparatus designed to support an operation of this type. While awaiting the arrival of the USAR assets members of the Bergen Regional team conducted secondary searches of the building along with void searches of the collapse areas with the Fort Lee fire department search camera. Tenafly fire department utilized their tower ladder to provide an aerial view of the structure in an attempt to identify any further movement of the exterior walls. Upon arrival of the USAR team personnel additional cameras were utilized to search remaining void spaces and minimal shoring was established to provide a safe environment for the canine search dog. All searches of the interior of the structure proved negative and demobilization of the incident was completed.
Major Structural Collapse
ABC Moving - 24 West Sheffield Avenue
Englewood fire companies responded to a reported structural collapse at 24 West Sheffield Avenue at 2327 hours on Thursday February 25. This response occurred during the height of one of the most serious snowstorms to strike the northeast in many years. Upon arrival the Platoon Commander found a120’ x 75’ steel/aluminum non-combustible type vacant storage building seriously compromised by the pancake collapse of the entire roof structure. As noted in the pictures this collapse also caused the exterior walls to become compromised and fail in an inward/outward type collapse. Fire Department personnel initiated a search of the structure and requested the response of PSEG to secure the buildings utilities. Primary searches of the area proved negative and the Building Department was requested to the scene to post the structure as uninhabitable. Upon further investigation the cause of the collapse was found to be the additional weight load placed on the roof by the snowstorm.
Second Alarm Fire
107 Reade Street
At 1921 hours on Thursday February 25 during the height of the severe snow storm that paralyzed the area on that day, fire companies responded to a reported structure fire at 107 Reade Street. Upon arrival in the Platoon Commander car, Captain Michael Johnston established command and reported he had a two-story wood frame private dwelling with heavy fire showing from the first floor C side of the structure and heavy smoke throughout. He immediately requested the transmission of a second alarm. A request for a second alarm begins a notification process that includes the return of all off duty Englewood firefighters to quarters, the response of a ladder truck from Tenafly and Fort Lee to the scene along with an engine from Teaneck. Additional units from Bergenfield, Leonia, and Fort Lee respond to Fire Headquarters to maintain fire suppression coverage in the City. As apparatus began to arrive at the fire scene the Truck company initiated forcible entry and primary search operations within the structure. Engine companies established a water supply from a near by hydrant and stretched two attack lines into the dwelling to begin fire suppression operations. Additional personnel conducted horizontal ventilation from the exterior and placed ground ladders to the second floor for further ventilation of the structure. The aggressive interior attack initiated by Englewood firefighters at the scene contributed to a rapid knockdown of the heavy fire in the rear of the first floor within minutes and complete control of the fire at the 20 minute mark. One firefighter suffered minor burns to his ear during search operations on the second floor of the building.
The textbook attack utilized to rapidly and efficiently extinguish this fire can be directly attributed to the number of firefighters on duty during this incident. The average daily staffing of firefighters in the City is 8.5 personnel including officers. At this fire 15 firefighters were on duty due to the severe snowstorm that day. This staffing level allowed the Incident Commander the opportunity to assign personnel key tasks that would normally be unassigned due to daily staffing limitations. This staffing level also played a critical role in assisting with the rapid deployment of hoselines and ladders in the severe weather conditions. All firefighters operating at the scene should be commended for the quick and effective work displayed at this incident under difficult circumstances.
An investigation of the fire discovered that contractors conducting plumbing work in the rear first floor kitchen area of the residence contributed to the cause of the fire.
Englewood fire remains under investigation
Monday, January 11, 2010
BY MARLENE NAANES
NorthJersey.com STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD — Arson investigators are looking into a two-alarm fire that left two families homeless Sunday, fire officials said Monday. The fire began about 4:30 a.m. Sunday on the top floor of a 2 ½ story wood-frame home at 242 W. Palisades Ave., said Englewood Fire Chief Robert Moran. The two families inside evacuated unharmed. Firefighters got the blaze under control in about 30 minutes. One firefighter had minor injuries, Moran said. Fire officials have not said the fire is considered suspicious, but the Englewood Fire Investigation Unit, Englewood Police and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit are investigating.
Englewood Fire Department Hires Four Probationary Firefighters
On Tuesday January 5 the Englewood Fire Department hired four probationary firefighters. These new members (Richard Motta, Andrew McGoldrick, Jason Bertero, and Andrew Carter) fill vacancies created by prior retirements and an additional mandatory retirement scheduled for July 1. These probationary members are on course to complete both FF1 and FF II training at the Bergen County Fire Academy on March 19. After this training they will attend a week long First Responder medical training course during which they will learn the basics of emergency medical treatment and a two week Hazardous Material course that will certify them as Hazardous Material Technicians in the State of New Jersey. We wish them a safe, lengthy,, and successful career as members of the Englewood Fire Department.
2009 Toy Drive
Fire damages 2 Englewood condos
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 The Record
ENGLEWOOD — An early-afternoon fire ripped through two units of a condominium building this afternoon, city fire officials said.
The fire apparently started in a chimney in an eight-unit building on Regency Circle in Cross Creek Pointe at Englewood. Firefighters were still trying to extinguish the flames two hours later.
A woman who lives in the townhouse where the fire started noticed flames and ran to the management office, property manager Hetal Gohel said. “She came running into the office, saying her porch was on fire, and she called 911,” Gohel said.
The chimney of that unit, which is attached to the back porch, was in ruins. Smoke billowed from the roof and windows.
Firefighters broke almost every window in the unit and the one next to it. Ladder trucks pushed their ladders into the roof to check for flames. Firefighters on ladders sprayed water over the entire left end of the structure, but still several hot spots erupted. A firefighter hacked through the walls of the neighboring unit to make sure there were no hidden flames.
The city’s Fire Department and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office arson squad were investigating the blaze, though “the initial investigation is that the source of the fire was within the chimney itself,” city Police Chief Arthur O’Keefe said.
All residents of the building’s eight units were evacuated, O’Keefe said. The Englewood Emergency Management team was at the scene and was making arrangements for the residents to be housed overnight, he said.
Neither firefighters nor residents had any fire-related injuries, O’Keefe said.
Firefighters from Fort Lee, Leonia, Tenafly, Teaneck and Bergenfield responded to a call for assistance
Fire Department Battles House Fire at 66 Henry Street
Tuesday, Devember 15, 2009
On Tuesday December 15, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. the Englewood Fire Department was received a 911 phone call reporting a house fire at 66 Henry Street. The on duty platoon consisting of two (2) officers and nine (9) firefighters responded with one (1) ladder truck and two (2) engines. Arriving on the scene at 4:48 p.m. companies found the top floor of a three story wood frame private residential dwelling fully involved in fire. Due to a heavy volume of fire and the possibility of fire extension to a similar structure to the east and a 5 story occupied multiple dwelling to the south a second alarm was immediately transmitted. After conducting a quick size up of the incident the officer in charged determined additional resources above the second alarm would be required and notified fire dispatch to transmit a third alarm. He then established an incident command post directly across the street from the fire building. Upon arrival at the scene firefighters initiated interior fire suppression and search operations. Two (2) 2” attack lines manned by engine company personnel were stretched from Engine 2 (first due engine) into the third floor of the dwelling. Ladder company personnel performed horizontal ventilation and primary search of the building. Overhead electrical wires directly in front of the fire building on Henry Street prevented the truck company chauffer from positioning the aerial ladder to the roof for roof ventilation operations. Due to this fact members of the Englewood ladder company were required to manually position ground and roof ladders to peaked roof to complete a vertical ventilation operation. As mutual aid companies and off-duty Englewood firefighters arrived on scene additional hose lines were stretched for exposure protection and backup for the initial attack lines, a rapid intervention crew (firefighter rescue team) was established, primary and secondary searches of the entire dwelling were completed, additional ground ladders were deployed, and the evacuation of the adjacent five story and three story multiple dwellings finalized.
The fire was placed under control by the Incident Commander approximately 60 minutes after arrival. During the incident the Englewood Fire EMS Supervisor established command of all EMS Operations. Six (6) firefighters were injured during the fire. Four (4) from Teaneck, one (1) from Fort Lee, and one (1) from Tenafly. One required transport to Englewood Hospital. Englewood Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was present at the scene and assisted with various ancillary tasks as required including the coordination of rehabilitation services with Box 54 (Bergen County rehabilitation unit). Englewood Police maintained security of the area, assisted with crowd control, road closures, and the fire investigation. In addition, the Englewood Construction Official responded to the scene and posted the structure as uninhabitable. The occupants declined Red Cross relocation assistance.
A fire investigation was initiated by the Englewood Fire Department Investigation Unit. Fire personnel confirmed the fire originated in the southeast corner of the third floor. However, investigators were unable to determine the exact cause (heat source) due to the severe damage present. After completing on scene interviews and the above mentioned cause and origin investigation the fire was determined to be accidental in nature. All Englewood Fire Department units were released from the scene at approximately 9:40 p.m.
Second Alarm
Recall of all off duty Englewood firefighters
Teaneck engine to the scene
Tenafly ladder truck to the scene (RIC)
Fort Lee ladder truck to the scene
Fort Lee engine to fire headquarters
Leonia engine to fire headquarters
Bergenfield ladder truck to fire headquarters
Box 54 rehabilitation unit to the scene
East Bergen Mutual Aid coordinator
Mid Bergen Mutual Aid coordinator
Third Alarm
One covering engine (Leonia), one covering truck (Bergenfield) to scene from fire headquarters
Englewood Cliffs engine to fire headquarters
Palisades Park truck to fire headquarters
Bergen County Mask Service Unit (MSU) to scene for scba refill
Bergenfield rescue to scene
Englewood Fire department takes control of EMT services
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 The Record
The Englewood Fire Department officially takes over emergency medical services in the city on Thursday, under a new plan that charges residents’ insurance carriers for ambulance rides.
BACKGROUND: The City Council adopted an ordinance in June that allowed fire officials to begin managing the daytime ambulance corps — a move officials say will improve services and bring in revenue. The plan could inject up to $325,000 a year into city coffers, Fire Chief Robert Moran said.
The Englewood Emergency Medical Services, a previously independent group of paid EMTs, will begin reporting to the Fire Department under the supervision of Lt. Jeffrey Kaplan. In the last few months, the city completed its state licensing requirements, including the purchase of a spare ambulance, Moran said. The ambulances were recently re-lettered to read "Englewood Fire Department."
A third-party billing company was chosen, and of the 40 candidates interviewed, 18 EMTs were hired on a per-diem salary without benefits, Moran said. Dr. David Istvan, chief of emergency medicine at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, will serve as the department’s medical director.
The Englewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which came out in support of the plan, will continue to supplement service on nights and weekends, officials said.
WHAT’S NEXT: The fire department will continue an employee orientation, increase training opportunities with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and assume dispatch responsibilities from Englewood police, Moran said. — Giovanna Fabiano
Firefighters should get their protection
Thursday, September 24, 2009 Northern
Valley Suburbanite
Englewood Fire Chief Robert Moran hopes to get the city to require that homes are tagged if they are built with pre-engineered lumber, a type of wood made with glue shavings that burns quickly. All towns should take this step to protect firefighters when responding to a blaze.
The pre-engineered wood melts at 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause a floor to collapse in less than 10 minutes. Firefighters are at an even greater danger when they enter a burning home unaware of its structure.
Moran's suggestion follows a Connecticut city's ordinance and a New Jersey mandate for commercial buildings. A small reflective sign would be placed to the right of the steps on a house. Firefighters on the scene would be able to recognize the house's structure and then plan accordingly.
Firefighters might not be in that situation every day. But they will be. They'll respond to a house fire and prepare to enter it to save residents' lives and or homes. They should be afforded every reasonable safety precaution that they can get.
Seeing a pre-engineered lumber stick doesn't mean the firefighters won't attempt to save the house. It means they will enact the best plan to attack the fire. The firefighters will be at less risk of falling through a collapsed floor.
The Englewood Fire Department would get the signs and help post them, Moran said. There's no cost to the residents. Just a great gain for the firefighters.
Other communities should help protect their own protectors too.
Towns Fire destroys 10 school buses Wednesday
BY MARLENE NAANES AND GIOVANNA FABIANO
NorthJersey.com STAFF WRITERS
An early morning fire Wednesday that damaged 10 school buses used by children in Englewood, Teaneck, Westwood and Demarest was deemed accidental, fire officials said.
Firefighters completed the investigation by Wednesday afternoon, but the cause of the fire was undetermined, Englewood Fire Chief Robert Moran said.
A police officer spotted the fire at 4:30 a.m. at the First Student bus company lot at 170 S. Dean St. in Englewood. Firefighters arrived to a heavy fire in the north side of the lot, Fire Chief Robert Moran said.
Despite difficulty maneuvering fire hoses around other parked buses, firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about 30 minutes. The Teaneck and Fort Lee fire departments assisted, Moran said.
Three of the 10 buses were a total loss, while four others were significantly damaged. Another three sustained minor damages, according to a spokeswoman for the bus company.
“The fire began in one of the buses, but we couldn’t tell what the exact cause of the fire was because of the extent of the damage,” Moran said. “It’s not suspicious.”
Officials said the company had enough standby buses to get local students to and from area schools. First Student serves Dwight Englewood School, Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest and schools in Teaneck and Westwood, among others.
Hours after the fire, the bus company’s workers were moving undamaged buses out of the parking lot to pick up children.
E-mail: naanes@northjersey.com and fabiano@northjersey.com
20 evacuated in Englewood fire
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Last updated: Tuesday August 11, 2009, 2:44 PM
BY ALLISON PRIES
The Record STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD – A three-alarm fire broke out on the second floor of a five-story apartment building this morning. It started in and was contained to a bedroom, Deputy Fire Chief Gerald Marion said. The fire went to three alarms because of the high temperatures today, heavy smoke and the size of the building, he said. About 20 were evacuated and fire personnel did an extensive search of the building. No one was injured. Jennifer Rogers, 27, said she was in her bedroom when she smelled smoke. The mother of two went into her bathroom to investigate and saw black smoke billowing up from the apartment below hers. She pulled the fire alarm to alert other residents and fled with her 4- and 5-year-old children. “The fire alarm goes off sometimes, more as a precaution. But this time it was real fire,” Rogers said, as she waited outside the building. “I’m glad my kids were prepared.” Power was cut to the affected apartment and the one below, because of water damage. But residents are expected to be allowed back inside later today.
E-mail: priesa@northjersey.com
Rodriguez first to climb ranks 
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Last updated: Thursday August 6, 2009, 1:50 PM
BY LAURA D'ONOFRIO Northern Valley Suburbanite STAFF WRITER
Ramon Rodriguez is the first Hispanic firefighter in Englewood to be promoted to a fire officer position. He is now Lt. Rodriguez and he is ready to serve.
Fire Chief Robert Moran promoted Rodriguez because Lt. Jeffrey Kaplan was transferred from the line position to the EMS supervisor position which the Fire Department now heads.
"This takeover of EMS required a promotion. Rodriguez was on the list of the promotional exam and he got it," said Moran.
Lt. Rodriguez has been a part of the department for seven years and is looking forward to this new chapter.
"I was very excited to get the news, naturally. For me it is more significant. I have been thinking about how my promotion represents hope for every other young minority, not just Latino, but for anyone anywhere," said Lt. Rodriguez. "It is hope of a positive future.
I am excited to represent this for the young kids in town." Rodriguez said that it has always been important for the department to reflect the community as far as demographics; to be this representative makes the lieutenant feel good.
Right now, Rodriguez is in a transition period and acclimating himself to the new responsibilities.
"There is a lot of paperwork involved, which I am not exactly looking forward to.
There is also the added responsibility of looking over the men I am put in charge of," said Rodriguez. "I always felt a duty to care for all of our guys and get them home safely, but this falls more directly on me now."
The lieutenant lives and breathes Englewood. He grew up and went to high school in the city and became involved with the Fire Department at a young age through the Fire Explore program.
He eventually took the test and started the job.
"I love the downtown here; it is diversified, with great people. I was speaking with a captain the other day and we were talking. We didn’t want to just be firemen; we wanted to be firemen in Englewood," said Rodriguez. "These are our people here and we want to serve them." E-mail: donofrio@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6705
Fire officials to run city EMS
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
BY GIOVANNA FABIANO
STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD — The Fire Department is taking over emergency medical services in the city, under a new plan that charges residents' insurance carriers for ambulance rides.
The City Council has adopted an ordinance that allows fire officials to begin managing the daytime ambulance corps — a move officials say will improve services and bring in revenue.
The plan could inject up to $325,000 a year into city coffers, Fire Chief Robert Moran said. It is slated to get under way in mid-August. The city joins a number of North Jersey towns that charge for ambulance rides, including Fort Lee, Paramus and Clifton.
The Englewood Emergency Medical Services, a previously independent group of paid EMTs, will begin reporting to the Fire Department as early as next month, Moran said.
"Before, there were a group of EMTs working rotating shifts who didn't really report to anyone, and the service just was not adequate … Response times were not up to par," Moran said.
"This isn't a knock on them, because they tried their best, but we want to help them and provide the best possible services to our residents," he said.
The Englewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which came out in support of the plan, will continue to supplement service on nights and weekends, officials said.
City officials will start taking bids for third-party billing companies in the next few weeks, said Daniel Fitzpatrick, the city manager.
The municipality will not seek any money from residents for ambulance services. Instead, it will bill insurance companies directly. Services will be provided regardless of a patient's insurance status, Moran said.
Council President Ken Rosenzweig said officials had considered ways to improve services without burdening taxpayers during the last few years.
"Previously, the volunteer ambulance did not charge for any ambulance rides, and city taxpayers and the volunteer organization's fund-raising efforts were subsidizing that," Rosenzweig said Friday.
"The key concern is to maintain excellent emergency services for residents and to do this in a way that does not have a financial impact to the residents of this city," he said.
An increasing shortage of volunteers has forced several North Jersey towns, including nearby Englewood Cliffs, to transfer some of its medical service operations to an outside company, such as a hospital ambulance corps.
But Moran is confident the system will be more efficient under the Fire Department's control. His staff will begin interviewing new EMT hires in the next few months, he said.
Englewood Hospital's ambulance corps will provide backup on an emergency basis.
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Prospect of sharing dispatch center grows
By Laura D'Onofrio
Staff Writer | Feb. 5 2009
ENGLEWOOD - The Englewood Fire Department has plenty to do this year. Not only did they swear in four new lieutenants, but also they are discussing the prospect of joining forces with Teaneck Fire Department.
Englewood and Teaneck are discussing the possibility of consolidating fire dispatch services between the city and township. Currently some of the processes used by both departments are outdated and do not serve the community most ably. For one, both Englewood and Teaneck use hand written logbooks of the day's activities. Second, when mapping a location the departments use wall maps and push pins. Third, a personnel issue: both have only one dispatcher on duty at any given time, a potential issue during times of incidents.
Kimball Consulting is a 55-year-old firm that services many counties in New Jersey. They offered a detailed power point report with the assessment and recommendations for implementing a shared fire dispatch center.
The report explained that a combined dispatch center would increase dispatch efficiency and effectiveness as well as decrease insurance ratings and increase firefighter safety.
The associates from Kimball also outlined that the consolidation would ease some operational issues at the departments. Currently, the departments do not receive all fire related 9-1-1 calls due to transferring glitches. This lack of transfer between police and fire prevents proper questioning of the public and issuance of caller safety instructions.
Secondly, both departments miss numerous radio call messages that could potentially endanger the lives of firefighters in need of assistance. This delay also endangers the public and increases the loss of property.
Teaneck Fire Chief Montgomery is on board. "This is a good move to bring more safety for residents and firefighters. This plan would allow for three dispatchers instead of one, this will greatly improve our radio management," said Montgomery.
If the Fire Departments were to upgrade into a modern, shared communications center, the joint cost to Teaneck and Englewood would be approximately $711,000.
Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes thinks it is time to get this moving. "Both dispatching systems are inadequate as both departments lack proper infrastructure to meet today's challenges," said Wildes.
As officials consider this further, they are looking for revenue sources. Grant writing is a first option, officials will seek funding from a share grant. This is state money put aside for municipalities that are investigating opportunities to combine and share services.
Teaneck Mayor Kevie Feit was impressed with the report and concept. "The idea is a very good one, the presentation was detailed explaining both operational and budget issues," Feit said.
In addition to this conversation, the Englewood Fire Department has sworn in four lieutenants. On Jan. 23 the new members recited their pledge to the community. Englewood Fire is promoting Matt Kansky, Themi Mintzas, Calvin Cunningham and David Haenett.
Deputy Chief Marion says the event emboldened the department. "The feedback has been positive from other officers and firefighters, it will create a safer operating environment and a better span of control of personnel. All the lieutenants have their personal and professional interests that I have seen them develop, this will do nothing but enhance the platoons they are assigned to," said the deputy chief.
The Englewood City Council approved the resolution to have the fire chief and city manager apply for the Shared Service Implementation grant at the Feb. 3 meeting.
Email: Donofrio@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6705
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Grant gives more protection to firefighters
By Cristina Bernal
Staff Writer | Dec. 9 2008
ENGLEWOOD - Rep. Steve Rothman awarded a federal grant of $44,280 to improve the on-ground protection for firefighters in Englewood.
The Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program was responsible for handling the process of providing the city's Fire Department with the money. The program hopes to improve the communication between emergency responders during any current battle against fire.
"I am happy to help direct these vital federal dollars to Englewood to increase the safety and security of our firefighters," said Rothman. "It is so important to not only focus on keeping our communities safe, but also protecting those who protect us. This new system will give fire departments the capability to better communicate with, locate and aid the entire crew on the ground during an emergency, and make sure that our firefighters stay safe while giving them the ability to save more lives."
The Englewood Fire Department will receive a new computer-based fire ground accountability system that is manufactured by ERT systems, located in Michigan. The system will be used to locate the firefighter in the perimeter during the actual fire. The department is made up of 55 personnel and each of them will be provided with a chip/card that will be contained in their personal protective equipment. The computer will pick up the signal from the chip/card and will demonstrate where the firefighter is generally located.
Mayor Michael Wildes said, "Our Fire Department is regarded nationally for having academic achievement and stellar service from responding to bio terrorism to helping put out fires in our homes. All of these resources are put to good use. For this I am appreciative."
Fire Chief Robert Moran said, "I think it's obviously a great addition to our fire suppression."
The system brings four computers that will be installed in the commanders' car and two chief vehicles. Deputy Chief Gerald Marion wrote the grant proposal and the office reviewed it. The Fire Department then submitted the application in early April and received word early this December.
Also, there is 10 percent the department received from the city. The city of Englewood paid $4,500 in order for the Fire Department to receive the $44,280.
Moran said, "the system will vastly improve the safety of our fire fighters on the fire ground but it's an important component of an overall fire ground accountability system. It is important to recognize that other components such as a strong incident, management system, sufficient staffing, company integrity and proper officer supervision also play a major role in effective fire ground accountability."
E-mail: bernal@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
E. Palisade Ave. reopened after car fire
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A car fire on East Palisade Avenue in Englewood had shut down a portion of the road around 7:30 a.m., police said.
The car was parked inside a garage at an apartment complex on East Palisade Avenue between Dwight Place and Lydecker Street, police said. The road was closed while fire crews extinguished the blaze.
The fire department had to stretch a hose across East Palisade Avenue to respond to the incident.
Michael J. Feeney
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Firefighters pitch city on lifesaving ID card system
Thursday, September 11, 2008
BY MAYA KREMEN
STAFF WRITER
ENGLEWOOD - The Fire Department is hoping to buy a cutting-edge wireless ID card system to track firefighters in burning buildings.
Firefighters will lobby the city for the $30,000 OnSite ERT system if they don't get a federal grant to cover it, Deputy Fire Chief Gerald Marion said. "Knowing where our firefighters are is really the key to safety," he said.
Each firefighter would be equipped with an identification tag and be traced via radio transmitters and a laptop.
The system would be one in a number of technological aids used by local first responders. Upper Saddle River and East Rutherford have laptops that can tell firefighters the layout of buildings and the locations of inhabitants. Firefighters in Oradell, New Milford and River Edge wear battery-operated devices that sound an outside alarm if they are motionless for more than 35 seconds.
OnSite ERT takes this concept a step further, tracking firefighters' movements throughout a building and keeping an inventory of who is in the structure at all times.
Marion is hoping that more towns will get on board, so that firefighters throughout the county could be tracked using the same system. Fire departments often work together and currently there is no way of knowing which firefighters are on scene, he said.
"There have been situations where we could have used a device like this," he said. "Firefighters that were trapped inside a building and weren't able to transmit their location."
But it might be too steep an investment for some volunteer departments, said Neal Carroll, who coordinates services in Oradell, New Milford and River Edge.
"It's a little out of our price range," he said.
Councilman and former firefighter Gordon Johnson said he would consider the system.
"You have to weigh the information provided versus the cost of the item," he said. "The positive is that it could save lives."
E-mail: kremenm@northjersey.com
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Delivery of Engine 2
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Photo by: Ron Jeffers
Delivery of New E-One 2000 GPM "Urban Engine" with 750 gallon tank.
Fire staff gets $22K for rescue boat
May not be needed, but department is being proactive
By Sophia Gonzalez
Staff Writer | Aug. 20
Englewood - The Englewood City Council has OK'd spending $22,000 for a new rescue boat - an unlikely expenditure authorities said - but maybe not for the next resident caught in a nor'easter.
Deputy Fire Chief Gerald Marion informed the city council Aug. 5 that the current rescue boat is ineffective and unsafe saying, "It's good for fishing, not for rescuing."
"This is not only a way to ensure the safety of our citizens, but it's for the safety of our responders," Marion added.
The Englewood Fire Department last responded heavily to water search and evacuation incidents during the April 2007 nor'easter that caused the state to deem Bergen County a disaster zone.
According to then Gov. Richard Codey, the nor'easter caused $180 million worth of damage across the state. In Hackensack, the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a disaster recovery assistance center to help affected residents and storeowners apply for aid.
But there have been other instances where emergency responders in Englewood have needed a rescue boat, Marion said.
There was a search for a possible drowning victim at Overpeck Creek and urban flooding along the intersection of Palisades Avenue and Humphrey Street, he said. Other flood-prone areas include Pindle Avenue, White Street, the ShopRite parking lot and First Street, according to a statement written by Fire Chief Robert Moran.
"Is there going to be a water emergency every day?" said Marion. "No. Is there a fire every day? No. But we have fire trucks."
According to the fire deputy chief, the new rescue boat will replace the two-person current aluminum rowboat, which will be donated to Overpeck County Park.
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Fire safety heats up at camp
By Sophia Gonzalez
Photo: Joe Camporeale
Staff Writer | Aug. 12 2008
Englewood Firefighter Kevin Wilson grabs an ax and lobs it against the sides of the Mazda 626. Passengers inside scream for help. A crowd begins to form.
This isn't a real life rescue by the Englewood Fire Department. Just your average day at the Englewood Summer Youth Camp.
Fireman Stephen Burns, right, and Lietenant Raymond Ryland use the 'Jaws of Life' to rescue the trapped passengers inside the car.
The camp enlists children ages 9 to 14 for a weeklong sneak peak into the workings of the Englewood Fire Department and other emergency response agencies.
Fire Inspector Rocco Carbone and Wilson have run the camp since 2002 with the help of about eight Fire Department volunteers and donations from local businesses.
"We thought it'd be a good idea to run a camp to teach [children] life skills and about the importance of education," said Wilson. "We focus a lot on communication skills, [about] respecting and working with each other."
Through excursions to the Bergen County Fire Academy in Mahwah and visits from guest speakers, the campers get the chance to meet firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians and coast guards. According to Carbone, many campers have since expressed "an interest in a career with the fire or emergency service."
"So, it's a great recruiting [device] for the Fire Department," Carbone said.
Tajai Brown, 14, said that his firefighter father inspired him to join the camp. "And it's a lot of fun," he said.
Demonstrations teach the campers everything from how to use a fire hose and survive relay races while wearing full turnout gear, to developing a home escape plan in case of a fire, said Wilson.
"My favorite was the smoke house," said 10-year-old camper Niles Sams. "We got to go in and there was all this smoke."
But the rest of the campers disagreed. "The car," they said, was by far the best.
Inside the Dwight Morrow High School cafeteria, Wilson drew the attention of 30 campers with a single blow of his whistle.
"We're going to stress to you the importance of wearing your seatbelt and also stress the importance of not getting in the car with your brother, sister or cousin who may be inebriated," he said.
"Does anyone know what 'inebriated' means?"
"Ooh," said one boy, as he stretched his right hand upward.
The same boy stood up and faced the other campers in red T-shirts in front of him. "Drunk," said the boy.
Wilson then talked about a Route 80 accident in 2007 that left six out of seven passengers in the car dead. The six passengers who were not wearing seatbelts did not survive, he said.
Outside, Wilson chose five campers to sit inside a parked Mazda 626 during a simulated car accident rescue. The children hid underneath a tarp inside the car. Wilson banged away at the car with an ax.
As part of the rescue, another Englewood firefighter approached the car with a window punch. With one quick movement, the glass from the car window fell to the floor like confetti.
"Oh my God," exclaimed the young onlookers.
The same firefighters then grabbed a Halligan bar and Hurst tool, best known as the "Jaws of Life." Using pressure, the Hurst tool quickly peeled the jammed car doors back.
The firefighters freed the passengers inside, strapping a neck brace onto one 14-year-old camper and placing him on a backboard.
"I told everybody in the car that if we keep on talking, we're going to die," said passenger Kai Wilson, 9, just seconds after he exited the car.
His father, Wilson, blew the whistle one more time. The campers turned their heads to focus on the camp co-director. Wilson paused a moment before he spoke.
"I don't want to pull up to an accident and see any of you in the car without your seatbelt because you know better," continued Wilson.
"Yes?" he asked his campers expectedly.
"Yes!" the campers fired back.
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
Firefighters test escape system
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
BY SOPHIA GONZALEZ
NORTHERN VALLEY SUBURBANITE
A new escape system will help Englewood firefighters from having to choose between life and death.
The equipment, tested last week at an abandoned Lafayette Avenue building, allows firefighters to escape from a building window by using a hook, rope, descender and pouch.
The city paid $25,000 for the equipment and training in 2007 following a three-year push from firefighters, said Fire Chief Robert Moran.
Moran cited a Bronx fire that left two firefighters dead and four others badly hurt in January 2005. Trapped on the fourth floor of the burning building, the firefighters were forced to jump out the window.
"It got so bad that they either burn to death or jump out of the window," said Moran.
The situation could arise when firefighters are unable to raise a ladder to the side of the building because of dangling wires, or the truck can't enter through the backyard, said one firefighter at the training session.
"Things can get bad in a hurry," one firefighter said.
Moran emphasized that the personal escape equipment is a last resort.
Trainers from Rescue Products Int., Inc. guided the 10 firefighters on a simulated escape from a second-floor window at 231 Lafayette Ave. Founded by career firefighter Christopher Botti, active and retired firefighters comprise the RPI training staff.
Members from the Teaneck and Passaic Fire Department also came to watch. Besides the city of Hackensack, Moran said that Englewood is one of the few New Jersey and New York City fire departments to have such a system.
Following the training staff's instructions, a firefighter fell to his knees and radioed Mayday for help. Wearing a masked helmet so that he could not see, he crawled to the window.
"If you were in this environment, you wouldn't see anything," said Moran, pointing to the firefighter on the ground. "You'd be in a stressed condition because you've run out of air, or you need to get out of the room that's now on fire."
The firefighter then attached the hook to the windowsill and hoisted himself onto the ledge. Still clinging to the window with his upper body, he readied his rope and descender. Already strapped in his harness, the firefighter let go of the sill and lowered himself slowly onto the deck outside.
To recreate a real life scenario, the fire chief said the entire process should take less than 30 seconds.
Moran said that the 10 firefighters would then instruct the rest of in the 55-member department to use the NARS escape device.
Training within the department would be conducted four times a year, he said.
"We don't ever want to use this system," Moran said. "But to have this equipment is giving them the capability to save their life if necessary."
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711- Photo JOE CAMPOREALE
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com
East Forest blaze reveals more illegal occupancies
By Cristina Kumka
Photo by denis niland
Staff Writer | April 29
The tenant and an owner of an East Forest Avenue home narrowly escaped a four-alarm blaze April 23 after they tried to remove a burning mattress from their basement.
Firefighters from at least seven local departments quelled a 54 East Forest Ave. blaze April 23 that resulted in two firefighter injuries and the discovery of more illegal occupancies in the city.
The two occupants escaped the midnight blaze with their lives and so did two firefighters who escaped the flames with minor injuries.
Although the cause of the fire was accidental, Englewood Fire Chief Robert Moran said firefighters discovered that the home was illegally converted to house more tenants in the two and a half story home and in a garage in the backyard.
The home was under foreclosure and the electricity was turned off, Moran said. One person was living in the home lit by candlelight and the owner of the home was living in a detached garage in the backyard. Both structures were illegally converted into rooms to house tenants.
The illegal occupancies coupled with the unattended burning candles that caused the blaze could have made the situation far worse.
"If you have a fire in your house, don't try to pull a burning mattress out and try to put fire out yourself," Moran said.
"Call 9-1-1 because any delay in response, as in the case, can cause the fire to intensify and rapidly move throughout the building."
According to Moran, the two people in the home lit candles in the basement then walked up to the first floor of the home. Moments later the people smelled something burning, went back down to the basement and saw that the mattress had caught fire.
They then tried to pull the mattress through a hallway where it got caught, he said.
The fire quickly spread from the basement throughout the wood-frame home and when firefighters arrived flames were shooting out of the upper floor windows.
A home next door was damaged because of the intense heat and a fence also caught fire.
Both occupants escaped. One Englewood firefighter was being treated for a shoulder injury as of last week and a Fort Lee firefighter was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
"The rapid response of the firefighters and the aggressive attack limited the fire damage to the original building and saved the other neighboring exposures," Moran said.
Tenafly, Bergenfield, Leonia, Fort Lee, Teaneck, Englewood Cliffs, Palisade Park, Ridgefield Park, Bogota and the Bergen County Mask Service Unit assisted Englewood in the response.
E-mail: kumka@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6705
Story Courtesy of NorthJersey.com