AUGUST, 2025, UPS, pg. 2
DOWNS: Mother Nature interfered with Paterson's district-wide high school graduation ceremony at Hinchliffe Stadium, June 23rd. Temperatures rose into the upper 90's with heat index values reaching as high as 111 degrees, according to Tap Into Paterson. First responders stepped in to halt the event for safety reasons, Seven people were transported to local hospitals for heat-related illness, while approximately 100 others were treated and evaluated at the scene.
UPS: This year, Elizabeth Engine Co. 8 has surpassed the 100-year mark serving the Elmora section of the city.
DOWNS: On July 1st Fairfield firefighters arrived at the scene of multiple utility poles down on Daniel Road East. High-voltage wires stretched across the road and landed on several parked cars. One auto caught fire due to the energized wires and became fully involved. Flames spread to two other vehicles. Firefighters extinguished the fire after PSE&G personnel confirmed that the wires were no longer alive, according to Tap into West Essex.
UPS: New firefighters in Kearny are Michaels, J; Richarp; Munro; Urueta and Michaels, R.
DOWNS: During a storm on the evening of July 3rd, , a large tree and portion of the sidewalk uprooted and fell across Greenbrook Rd., in North Plainfield, landing on a Jeep Cherokee. The tree trapped the 44-year-old woman that was operating the vehicle. First responders faced live power lines and an unstable tree while attempting to reach the victim. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Daily Voice.
UPS: Firefighter Ryan Peach has been promoted to captain in Hamilton Township.
DOWNS: Two people were killed when a tree collapsed onto the vehicle they were occupying in Plainfield, during a storm on July 3rd. More than 80 downed trees were reported throughout the city, according to the Daily Voice. Several homes suffered structural damage and multiple vehicles were crushed. PSE&G deployed restoration teams and set up a mobile command trailer in the city.
UPS: Newly promoted fire captains in Elizabeth are Christopher Sinclair, Dale Brothers, John Syers and Robert Petrick.
DOWNS: Eight Jersey City firefighters were injured battling a 3-alarm fire on Fourth St., July 10th. Two vacant buildings were fully involved upon arrival. Both collapsed within 30-minutes. The members were taken to the JCMC for injuries that included smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. The Red Cross relocated five occupants of the neighborhood dwellings, according to the Hudson County View.
UPS: New firefighters in Passaic are Rae Jennings, Manuel Ramirez, Mariana Fera and Hector Ortigoza.
DOWNS: During a severe storm on July 14th, a Parkview home in North Plainfield exploded. Four people escaped before the explosion. Mayor Lawrence LaRonde said roughly some 30 people were rescued on eight different streets from storm damage. Nearby Watchung had the highest recorded rainfall in the state at 6.51-inches. Area first responders made numerous rescues. Cars and shipping containers were filmed floating down a North Plainfield street.
UPS: Phil Barter has been promoted to deputy fire chief in Morristown. Mike Cirelli has been promoted to captain.
DOWNS: During the storm of July 14th, a vehicle was swept into Cedar Brook, in Plainfield, taking the lives of two elderly woman in the auto.
UPS: New firefighters in Summit are Timothy Digney and Michael Tomich.
DOWNS: Two residents of a Fairmount av. dwelling in Hackensack were injured, including one with serious injuries, as the result of a fire on July 3rd. A firefighter was also taken to a local hospital, according to the Daily Voice.
UPS: New firefighters in Bayonne are: Edwin Zorrilla, Jorpy Ottenwalder, Ryan Guthrie, Angelo Scianni, Aurora De Vincenzo, Jesse Williams, Otto Mejia, Nicholas Konopka, Robert Fdyfil and William Berl.
DOWNS: On July 4th, Paterson firefighters were dispatched to an alarm on Southard St. and found two 2 ½ story dwellings involved in flames. Due to the heat, the fire rose to 4-alarms. Fourteen residents were displaced and two firefighters were taken to St. Joseph Hospital with injuries, according to a department Facebook post.
UPS: Effective August 1st, Upper Freehold Township began 24/7 career fire protection. The career assignment will increase from seven to nine members protecting some 47-square miles working with the volunteer members of the Hope Fire Company, according to a Monmouth & Ocean County Career Firefighter's Officer's Association press release.
DOWNS: A private ambulance was involved in a MVA with three other vehicles and then smashed into a house on Woodlane Rd., Mount Holly, July 10th. Four people were hospitalized, according to the NY Daily News. The ambulance was doing a private, non-emergency, transport. The injured included one person inside the home, the driver of the ambulance, and EMT and the patient in the ambulance. The accident is under investigation.
UPS: On July 12th, Fort Lee Rescue Co. 2 celebrated its 125th anniversary with an open house. A meeting was held on July 9th, 1900, to organize the residents to start a fire department. The first firehouse was located in Mrs. Dempsey's blacksmith shop.
DOWNS: A motorcyclist was killed as the result of a crash on I. 80 in Parsippany, July 22nd. The crash caused several vehicles to burst into flames. The fire spread to about five acres of wooded area, according to News 12. Police said a pickup truck was towing a Chevy Suburban when a person riding a Yamaha motorcycle crashed into the back of the Suburban, causing all three vehicles to catch fire.
UPS: Two dogs were rescued during a fire in a Myers av. dwelling in Hasbrouck Heights, July 24th. Smoke was omitting from the garage portion of the dwelling when firefighters arrived. The pets were located during a search of the home. Chief of Department Robert Knobloch said the dogs were taken to the Oradell Animal Hospital to be examined and both were fine.
DOWNS: A tanker truck spilled about 800 gallons of fuel at a Wawa business on West Rio Grande av. in Wildwood, July 20th. The Wawa was evacuated and closed down. Some local streets were closed as crews controlled and investigated the spill.
UPS: The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority is taking steps to make the Meadowlands Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, safer for the public. In July, the board approved several measures to improve firefighting operations, expanding the firehouse and pedestrian safety. An estimated billion visitors will descend on the area for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournaments. The authority has agreed to a contract of about $3.8 million for improvements to the existing firehouse at the sports complex. The firehouse will received a new breathing apparatus fill station and a utility vehicle, plus new firefighting apparatus. In addition, a modular emergency medical services building will be created on the property.
DOWNS: A fire involved a W. 22nd St. dwelling in Bayonne, July 20th. One occupant suffered a head injury and four firefighters also suffered minor injuries, according to a local OEM Facebook post. Jersey City companies operated at the 4-alarm fire on a very hot afternoon.
UPS: Recent Bayonne FD promotions include Francis Pawlowski to deputy chief; Kenneth Jaros to battalion chief; and Vincent Bottino, Ricardo Joynt, Robert Wasielewski, and Michael Monczewski to captain.
No information from the author.
