Sept., 2022 UPS, page 2
DOWNS: A fire that started in a boat on Lake Hopatcong, June 29th, spread and damaged surrounding vessels and docks, officials said. Jefferson Township Fire Co. 2 responded to the fire in the Great Cove area. The fire was knocked down quickly after their arrival.
UPS: Sal Barraco has been promoted to chief of the Elizabeth Fire Department. John Ryan was promoted to battalion chief.
DOWNS: A cement truck crashed into a liquor store in Green Brook, June 30th. The truck collided with a car on Route 22 and then careered into the store on Washington Ave., officials said. The driver was extricated and rushed to an area hospital by helicopter.
UPS: The Union Fire Department held a promotional ceremony on June 21st. Henry Sisbarro was promoted to deputy chief. New battalion chiefs are Donald Vitale and David Zeh. Promoted to captain were Michael Caldas, Peter Peros, Thomas Osiadacz and Edward Collins, Jr. New lieutenants are Daniel Rodriguez and Matthew Hokanson.
DOWNS: A multiple-alarm fire involved a Magnolia Ave. auto repair shop in Elizabeth, June 29th. The column of smoke could be seen for miles.
UPS: Firefighters rescued a man that became trapped in a hole along Hamilton Ave. in Hamilton Township, June 23rd. The victim was conscious and alert when he was transported to a local hospital, according to WCAU-TV.
DOWNS: Two people died in an early morning fire on Flemington-Whitehouse Rd. in the Whitehouse Station section of Readington, July 3rd, according to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.
UPS: Michael Hyde has been promoted to deputy fire chief in Kearny. Nelson da Silva was promoted to captain and Patryk Piszcz has been appointed as firefighter.
DOWNS: Camden firefighters were busy overnight, July 4-5, operating at three fires. They battled fires on Congress st. in an occupied dwelling, a South 10th St. vacant dwelling and a second-alarm in a Mt. Ephraim Ave. warehouse that extended to two occupied dwellings, officials said. Twenty residents were displaced as a result of the fires.
UPS: Recently promoted to fire captain in Harrison were Michael Granato, Eric Hausmann, Kevin DeGaetano and James Patterson.
DOWNS: A large brush fire burned nearly 60-acres of land off of Meadow Rd. in Edison, July 5th. The NJ Forest Fire Service teamed up with the E.F.D. to contain the fire.
UPS: In May, West Orange Firefighter Anthony Williams received the EMT of the Year Award sponsored by Mountainside Medical Center. He was selected by local EMS partners from among 30 nominees.
DOWNS: Before the sun set for the evening fireworks displays on July 4th, smoke could be seen for miles coming from burning wooden pallets of foam insulation, off of Route 46., in Hasbrouck Heights. Flames also spread to a section of an industrial building. Bucket loaders were called in to remove the damaged pallets, officials said.
UPS: On June 12th, Rutherford officials honored the late John Ruddy by naming the intersection of Wood St. and Fairview Ave., “John T. Ruddy Way.” Ruddy was a Jersey City battalion chief and Rutherford High School 1990 graduate. Chief Ruddy passed away in December, immediately following a fire call, considered a line-of-duty death.
DOWNS: A burning utility pole with three transformers fell over and onto a school building on Industrial St. East in Clifton, July 5th. No students were in the school. Firefighters had to wait until the power to the transformers was shut off before applying water on the flames. Fire made its way up the side of the building and into the school's interior, officials said.
UPS: The Ship Bottom Fire Department is celebrating its 100th birthday with numerous community-oriented events. This includes a car show in September and a parade of emergency vehicles in October.
DOWNS: Multiple school buses caught fire in the Finderne section of Bridgewater Twp. on July 5th. First responders found several buses burning on Central Ave. with a power line down, according to Deputy Fire Chief Tom Marshall.
UPS: Bayonne firefighters teamed up with other agencies and rescued a man and woman who had fallen off of their jet ski, in New York Bay, that was taken away by the current, July 10th. City firefighters found the pair, who had been thrown life rings by members of Royal Caribbean and Port Authority police. Bayonne Marine 1 was dispatched and a rescue swimmer entered the water, allowing firefighters to remove both people safely, according to Deputy Chief Bill Bartos.
DOWNS: Helmetta Fire Chief Christopher Acs, 47, was killed in a motorcycle accident in South Brunswick, July 10th. The accident is being investigated by local police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
UPS: The Green Knoll Volunteer Fire Company will enjoy their 75th anniversary with a celebration on August 30th, in Bridgewater.
DOWNS: A young girl died as the result of a fire in a North Ave. dwelling in Plainfield, July 17th. Another child was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation, officials said. Some residents were rescued from windows via ladders.
UPS: The Livingston Fire Department will celebrate their 100th anniversary with a parade and apparatus muster on October 1st. The parade will start at 10 a.m. and proceed to Memorial Park Oval, in front of Livingston High School. For information, email LFD100th@gmail.com
DOWNS: A Newark firefighter was injured when a distraught man threw a bottle at the windshield of a fire apparatus at Clinton & Baldwin Avenues, July 22nd, officials said. The actor then began to do damage to other parts of the rig. He was taken into custody. Police said the shattered glass injured a firefighter, who was treated at University Hospital.
UPS: In June, the Palmyra Fire Department recognized Richard Dreby for his 50-years of volunteer service. In addition, he became a full-time police officer in 1976. He spent 32 ½ years with the police department, with his last 10 ½ years as police chief. After retirement from the police department, he went on to work as the director of public safety in Burlington County for 6-years.
DOWNS: A woman was killed and about 18 families displaced as the result of a July 22nd fire that involved an apartment building at Prospect St. & Park Ave., East Orange, officials said. It took some eight hours to extinguish the flames in temperatures that reached the upper 90's.
UPS: A donation drive that started in March by members of the Clifton Fire Department successfully collected and sent 60 tons of firefighting and medical equipment to Ukraine. Lt. Mark Drew and FF Oleg Skachko thanked Chief of Department Frank Prezioso and all participants for their support.
DOWNS: The Sparta Classic Diner, on Woodport Rd., was damaged by fire on July 21st. Firefighters arrived to find fire in the kitchen area, and flames broke through the roof. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, according to a department Facebook page.
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