DOWNS: In Camden, a 2-alarm fire involved the former Mc Crory's department store on Broadway, April 11^th. Numerous master streams were used. 

UPS: Retired Kearny Deputy Chief Frank Viscuso was named the 2025 George D. Post Instructor of the Year by the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. 

DOWNS: A 9-year-old girl perished, and two other children hospitalized, as the result of a fire in an Astor Pl. dwelling in Newark, April 16^th. 

UPS: Bruce Stevens was promoted to deputy fire chief in Elizabeth. Nelson Navas was promoted to battalion chief and Dillon Jensen is the department's new captain. 

DOWNS: A reported explosion, followed by fire, raced through four homes on 13^th av. in Belmar, April 13^th, according to officials. 

UPS: In April, Upper Saddle River ex-volunteer Fire Chief John Carlough was recognized by Mayor Fardanesh for his 50-years of service to the Borough. In addition to being a successful business owner, he also maintained an average 95.5 yearly percentage of attendance for fire calls and drills, according to a local Facebook post.         

DOWNS: On April 20^th, a fire involved a perfume manufacturing warehouse in Norwood. HazMat units from Bergen County and the New Milford F.D. were called in due to the different chemicals used at the facility. The New Milford Haz Mat team was used to decon over 50 firefighters and their gear due to the chemicals involved, according to a department Facebook post. 

UPS: Newly appointed Elizabeth F.D. EMT's are Ashley Monterio, Jordan Zelifs and Ian Spurr. 

DOWNS: In April, a wildfire consumed many thousands of acres in the area of Jones and Bryant roads in Ocean Township. Authorities said the fire was within the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust's Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area. Mandatory evacuations of homes were ordered and some commercial buildings were burned. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, N.J. DEP Commissioner Shawn La Tourette and Ocean Township Chief of Police Michael Rogalski announced that on April 23^rd, Joseph King, 19, of Ocean Twp. (Waretown) was charged with aggravated arson and arson in connection with the fire that started on April 22^nd, and continued to spread throughout the southern Ocean County area. 

UPS: On the evening of April 28^th, passing by West New York EMT's called in a working fire on Polk St. in a large three-story wood frame dwelling. An exterior fire had consumed the entire side of the home and into the attic. Quick thinking EMT's Carlos Cabanilla, Alexis Alexander, Jaynina Lyons and Rigoberto Estevez ran into the building and alerted and assisted over 15 occupants, and their pets, out to safety before the arrival of fire companies. They also evacuated an exposure building.