DOWNS: Four dogs perished as the result of a fire in a shed that they were living in, according to Egg Harbor police. Two of the six dogs living in the shed survived the fire, officials said. The shed was located in a backyard of a home at Tremont & Bates Avenues. Firefighters responded to the fire from Bargaintown and Cardiff.  

UPS: While walking his daughter to school in January, off duty Teaneck Fire Captain Christopher Connolly heard “the sound of someone falling through ice,” according to a department Facebook post. He saw a child “almost fully submerged” hanging onto ice, with friends unsuccessfully attempting to pull the victim out of the Bergen County creek. After ensuring that there were no additional victims, the captain removed the child from the water. He called 911 and provided first aid while waiting for EMS to arrive.  

DOWNS: A car carrier and several vehicles were involved in fire on the NJ Turnpike north of Interchange 18W, in Carlstadt, Feb. 4^th. Borough and East Rutherford firefighters contained the fire, according to NorthJersey.com.  

UPS: A West Long Branch police officer rescued an 11-year-old boy who fell through ice after he wandered some 75-yards across the frozen Franklin Lake, Feb. 3^rd. Police body-cam footage captured P.O. Dave Brosonski jumping into the lake and pulling the boy out to safety. 

DOWNS: A fire consumed an East Main St. dwelling in Flemington, Feb. 8^th.  

UPS: A Ridgefield police officer and an off duty volunteer firefighter teamed up to help save an unresponsive man that was involved in a MVA on Feb. 5^th. Fire Lt. Matthew Bonaguaro was on his way home from work when he approached a MVA on Grand av. The lieutenant noticed Ridgefield Police Officer Faith Karabiyik assisting an unresponsive man who had been pulled from one of the vehicles. Lt. Bonaguaro retrieved a medical kit and AED from the police officer's radio car. Together, they rendered life-saving care, according to the Daily Voice. The man had no pulse and was not breathing. Lt. Bonagaro and P.O. Karabiyik began administering CPR while waiting for EMS to arrive. The victim was turned over to EMS personnel and transported to a local hospital. “Lt. Bonaguaro's quick thinking and teamwork with Officer Karabiyik are credited with directly saving the man's life,” the Daily Voice reported.  

DOWNS: One person died as the result of a fire in a Union av. dwelling in Clifton, Feb. 6^th.  

UPS: Jordan Papietro Zales was promoted to fire captain in Ridgewood. David Kelly was promoted to lieutenant. Matthew Biagi is the village's new probationary firefighter.  

DOWNS: Ridgefield Park Police Officer Steven Fernandez, 39, was killed in a snowmobile crash in February. Fernandez volunteered many years with the village ambulance corps and fire department, officials said. In addition, he was a registered nurse and Eagle Scout. He was recently assigned to the detective bureau.  

UPS: Probationary firefighters in Teaneck are Mark Castano, Emilio Vasquez and Gary Greulich.  

DOWNS: A 3-alarm fire involved a large three-story building on Washington St., Paterson, on Feb. 17^th. The building, which houses George the Butcher, a popular area business, was heavily damaged. Due to deep-seated fire in the basement, the Oradell F.D. Hi Expansion Foam Unit was called to the scene. Hi Expansion foam is a specialized firefighting tool designed for confined space fires.   

UPS: In Newark, Battalion Chiefs Mark Furka and James Lyones have been escalated to the provisional deputy chief rank.  

DOWNS: Two women were killed and one man injured as the result of a boat fire in Newark, Feb. 21^st. The boat was parked in an alleyway near Pershing av. Two boats were heavily involved in fire when units arrived on the scene. The man was reported in stable condition at Cooperman Barnabas M.C., according to the Daily Voice. 

UPS: On the morning of Feb. 23^rd, three off duty police officers teamed up to remove guests from a burning motel in Point Pleasant Beach before fire units arrived, according to the Daily Voice. The trio were passing by the Broadway motel when they saw smoke and flames coming from the building. They immediately began evacuating guests. Ocean Fire Company and Point Pleasant Co. 2 fire units arrived and extinguished the flames, authorities said.  

DOWNS: First responders in Tenafly were greeted with heavy fire involving a one-family dwelling on Cameron Rd., on Feb. 27^th. A woman managed to escape before help had arrived, but she suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns, officials said. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Arson Squad was called in to investigate the cause.  

UPS: The Hackettstown Fire Department has donated their 1965 Seagrave pumper to the New Jersey Fire Museum.  

DOWNS: A fire damaged multiple units at a Burleigh Storage on Skunpike Rd. in Cape May Court House, on Feb. 19^th. Middle Township police said more than 50 units were damaged and one person was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Strong winds helped fan the flames.  

UPS: In February, members of the Passaic Fire Department assembled at the NJ Firemen's Home in Boonton to celebrate retired Captain Thomas Reno's 100^th birthday, which was in December. He served on the P.F.D. for 36-years. Captain Reno was presented with a ceremonial bugle from the department and a proclamation from Mayor Lora.

DOWNS: A 3-story mixed occupancy building on Hall av., Perth Amboy, experienced a gas explosion on Feb. 20^th, officials reported. Firefighters found a small amount of fire in a first-floor restaurant.  

UPS: In February, Saddle Brook ex-Chief Howie Mulden was recognized for his 60-plus years of dedicated service to the department, as well as his service with the Library Board.       

DOWNS: Due to a bird strike over Newark, a Fed Ex Boeing 767 engine caught fire on March 1^st. The plane was on its way to Indianapolis, but declared an emergency moments after takeoff from Newark International Airport. Flames ignited in the number two engine. The aircraft climbed to 2000-feet before aborting. Port Authority emergency crews extinguished the flames. There were no injuries among the crew of three.  

UPS: In February, the Bogota F.D. celebrated the retirement of Fire Marshal Lou Kern. He served as fire marshal and fire official for over 30-years. He is also a member of Engine Co. 3 for over 50-years and a former chief of department.  

DOWNS: Heavy fire involved a metal recycling yard on South Front St. in Camden, Feb. 21^st, sending a large column of smoke into the sky. 

UPS: Newly appointed firefighters in Ewing Township are Ryan Brenner, Jesse Collins and Michael Verzicco.   

DOWNS: Flames involved three occupied dwellings on Woodside av. in Newark on the morning of March 2^nd, displacing over 50 people, according to News 12. Strong winds, below-freezing temperatures and water pressure problems hampered firefighter's efforts.  

UPS: The Bergen County Emergency Medical Services is celebrating its second-year anniversary serving the county's one million residents. In two years, the unit has responded to over 12,500 runs and has answered calls in 70 municipalities, according to a county Facebook post. The squad has grown to 16 full-time employees and 33 per diem, with nine ambulances and one supervisor. There are two more ambulances and one supervisor car on order. The county EMS unit was organized to fill a void left by shortages of volunteers on the local municipal level. The services are funded by insurance reimbursements and the Corona Virus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, County Executive James Tedesco said.