DOWNS: Fire raced through a Ligham St. home in Belleville on the morning of March 30^th.  Five people escaped the flames as neighbors helped the family with clothing, and they helped  keep them warm, according to Tony Caputo, News12.  

UPS: On March 30^th, a group  of North Bergen H.S. students heard a kitten crying from a sewer grate on 77^th St. near Tonnelle av.  Four North Hudson firefighters teamed up to enter the great and recovered the cat, that the students named “Pebble.”  The kitten was taken to Bergenline Animal Hospital to ensure that it was healthy.  The kitten went home with one of the firefighters, according to a North Bergen Community Forum Facebook post. 

DOWNS: A three-alarm fire involved several buildings on Sheridan av. in Seaside Heights, April 4^th.  Police Chief Thomas Boyd said four cars were also damaged by the fire.  No injuries were reported.  

UPS: New firefighters in Hamilton are Christian Barbato, Christopher Cevallos, Joshua Doles, Alec Ducsay, Yajhziel Reyes, Michael Everett, Eric Gephart, Joseph Giori and Sara Mulryne.  

DOWNS: A fire ripped through several buildings along Butler's Main Street business district, April 2^nd.  At least four buildings were involved in fire with others damaged, according to WABC-TV.  Roughly 19 people were displaced. 

UPS: In April, the Lawrence Township F.D. expanded its weekday staffing to around-the-clock coverage.  Career firefighters will be on duty 24-hours a day, replacing the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule.  Volunteer members will continue to staff weekend shifts and also support fire operations alongside career personnel, according to the Patch.  

DOWNS: During a fire in a Judson St. dwelling in Edison, April 16^th, a firefighter fell through the roof and was dropped to his waste .  A Mayday was transmitted, and the firefighter was pulled out by fellow members.  He was reported to be in good condition, according to WCBS-TV. 

UPS: In April, the Paterson Fire Department swore in Rev. Jesus Sevilla as its new Fire Chaplain.  He holds a doctorate in Theology and a Master's Degree in mental health.  

DOWNS: Fire raced through the third-floor of a townhouse apartment complex on Plaza Dr., Woodbridge, on the morning of April 17^th.  The fire displaced 50 residents, according to Eyewitness News.  No injuries were reported.  

UPS: Recent promotions in the Passaic Fire Department include Jorge Romero to battalion chief.  Anthony Larkin, Brittani Ross and Angel Manzueta are the new lieutenants. 

DOWNS: A fire broke out at the scene of a truck that crashed into a building off of Roue 3 in Clifton, April 14^th.  A towing cable hit a battery while trying to remove the tractor trailer, according to the Daily Voice.  The truck was lodged inside of the Limo Ride building when it crashed into the structure on April 13^th, leaving the driver trapped and injured.  Firefighters extracted the driver from the cab, and he was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  The building sustained severe damage and was leveled.

UPS: The New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company will celebrate their 125^th anniversary on August 1^st with a parade at noon.  The parade will end at the New Egypt Elks Lodge where a ceremony will begin at 2 p.m.  

DOWNS: It was believed that a propane tank ignited in the rear of a Summit Circle home in Little Ferry and caused a fire that involved two dwellings, April 21^st, according to Independent Online News. 

UPS: In April, the Orange Theory Fitness donated four water rowers to the Hackensack  Fire Department.  They will be added to the city firehouses to help keep the members strong, healthy and ready to serve, according to an IAFF Local 2081 Facebook post.   

DOWNS: A fire involving a large barn in the Fairmount section of Long Valley. April 21^st, took roughly seven hours to contain, according to the Long Valley Patch. Crews from Long Valley, Fairmount, Schooleys Mountain, Chester and Califon were part of the fire company response units.      

UPS: On April 7^th, U.S. Congressman Rob Menendez visited North Hudson  Fire Headquarters, in West New York, to deliver a check from the U.S. House of Representatives for $1,410,000 for “Fire House Modernization.” The check was accepted by Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, Chairman of the Management Board, and Chief of Department David Donnarumma, as local officials and firefighters looked on.