September 2020, UPS/Page 2
DOWNS: A 24-year-old woman went for a mile-long ride under the city of Passaic during a flash flood on July 6th. The woman attempted to drive through deep water near High St. & Benson Ave., said Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost. The car began to fill up with water and float as the tide moved it toward a large viaduct opening, the chief said. The woman escaped the car, but the current pulled her with the vehicle into the brook that runs below the city. “(The) water is traveling at 30 mph,” Trentacost said. The victim continued on, in the rushing water, until water reached its outlet above the Passaic River, near Brook Ave. Rutherford Police Chief John Russo said the woman was “shot out,” swam to the other side of the river, and climbed out on Rutherford banks into a backyard on Carneer Ave. The driver was taken to St. Mary's General Hospital in Passaic. “She was out of it,” Russo said. “In shock. She really didn't know what happened to her.”
UPS: The Prospect Park Fire Department has received a fire prevention grant from FM Global, a large property insurer. The award will be used to assist with pre-incident planning to efficiently collect and track data related to local community buildings.
DOWNS: A banner plane crashed into the water just off of the 13th St. beach, and yards away from the shore, in Surf City, June 27th. The Coast Guard and local first responders reported to the scene, but lifeguards were able to pull the pilot from the water. The pilot of the Cessna 150 was taken to the hospital for examination, officials said.
UPS: Robert Pienciak has been promoted to fire captain in Hillside.
DOWNS: A fire at Blueknight Energy Partners on Water St., Gloucester City, resulted in a hazmat situation and evacuations, June 30th. Local fire companies and a hazmat crew responded, officials said. People in the surrounding area were evacuated for about four hours as a precaution.
UPS: New firefighters in Summit are Carlos Villalobos and Vince Abbate.
DOWNS: About 60 Newark firefighters were used to battle a fire at the Churchman Funeral Home on 13th Ave., July 1st.
UPS: New fire captains in Vineland are Terry McManus and Michael Feaster.
DOWNS: A home on Beckerville Rd., in Whiting, was struck by lightning, July 1st, causing it to catch fire. When Manchester police arrived the home was fully involved, officials said. No one was home but two cats, a bird and several reptiles were killed.
UPS: Charles Nash has been promoted to fire lieutenant in Vineland.
DOWNS: A two-story dwelling on West End Ave. in Englewood was damaged by a fire, July 4th, that started on an exterior wall next to a garbage can and spent fireworks, authorities said.
UPS: After 38-years of “superior service to the city's EMS services,” Vineland EMS Chief Al Lincks retired, in June.
DOWNS: Two Newark firefighters were injured while battling a fire at a recycling facility on Frelinghuysen Ave., July 6th. Units arrived and found smoke and fire coming from all three floors, officials said. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries after they fell from a loading dock.
UPS: With the increase of waterfront properties being built, and existing properties, Perth Amboy has received a $900,000 Port Security grant to replaced the fire department's 15-year-old fire boat with a new vessel, with a 10,000-GPM capability.
DOWNS: A forest fire burned in a remote section of the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, northwest of the Cassville section of Jackson, in early July. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service had units at the scene.
UPS: Besides bringing heavy rain, winds, local flooding and downing power lines, Tropical Storm Fay was given credit for dousing what remained of the Pine Barrens wild fire that could have been much worse if it were not for the soaking, officials said. The fire grew to 204 acres.
DOWNS: On the morning of July 13th, East Rutherford firefighters were dispatched to the NJ Turnpike for a tractor trailer fire. Chief Kevin Felton reported an overturned and fully involved 8,000-gallon gasoline tanker. The truck driver escaped the tractor and sustained minor injuries, officials said. Assisting fire departments included: Carlstadt, Rutherford, Wallington and Moonachie, plus foam units from the Port Authority, Passaic, Garfield, Paramus and Teaneck.
UPS: On July 13th, the Millville Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Service started with two ambulances available on a 24/7 basis. The city has hired 16 full-time EMTs and budgeted for 9 more on a per deim basis, according to Fire Chief Michael Lippincott.
DOWNS: One family was displaced and others were evacuated due to an apartment fire on Easton Ave. in the Somerset section of Franklin Twp., July 18th, police said.
UPS: Robinsville firefighters will receive a federal grant for more than $13,000 to purchase PPE needed to protect the public and first responders during the ongoing coronavirus emergency. The money comes from the Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security Act.
DOWNS: Firefighters in Hillsboro Twp. responded to an overturned airplane and fuel leak in the area of Central Jersey Regional Airport on Millstone Rd., July 14th.
UPS: Camden Engine Co. 10 was part of a drive-by birthday celebration for retired Captain William Taylor, Jr. on his 95th birthday, July 11th. Captain Taylor is also a US Navy World War II veteran. His father also served on the Camden FD from 1920 to 1951.
DOWNS: Longport firefighters launched a boat to recover a body found by a fisherman floating in the Great Egg Harbor Inlet, July 18th.
UPS: Members of Jersey City Engine Co. 8 rescued a cat stuck in a car on July 14th. The pet cat was trapped under a seat, wedged under a few steel bars.
DOWNS: A huge fire tore through the Red Bird Egg Farm on Cemetery Rd. in Pilesgrove, July 20th, killing nearly 300,000 chickens. The Mannington fire chief said the major issue was getting water to the scene since there are no fire hydrants in the area. Water was “tanked in by trucks,” Chief Lee Butcher said.
UPS: The Camden County Office of Emergency Management will receive $1,395,002.66 in FEMA and Public Assistance grants to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced in July. Funds will be used to ensure front line workers will have the PPE they need to keep themselves and others safe and out of harm's way, officials said.
DOWNS: Edison firefighters fought two fires just hours apart during a heavy rain storm on July 23rd. The first fire occurred in an Anthony St. dwelling followed by another on Merrywood Dr. A total of 11 people were displaced. Fire Captain Andy Toth also reported that there were multiple trees and power lines down in the area of Wood and Inman Avenues.
UPS: The Secaucus Fire Department will received $19,661 in AFG funding from the Department of Homeland Security for PPE and other essential supplies.
DOWNS: Police said a family of six was displaced on July 22nd after a lightning strike set their Breckenridge Dr. home on fire in Sicklerville, Gloucester Twp.
UPS: The Paramus Fire department will receive $93,054 in AFG funds to purchase PPE and other essential supplies.
DOWNS: Several firefighters were hospitalized after suffering from heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation after they battled a 4-alarm fire involving two Passaic St. dwellings, in Passaic, July 27th. Two other members suffered injuries from slipping and falling, officials said. Hot and humid weather conditions prevailed. Firefighters rotated every 10-minutes due to the heat. According to officials, instead of getting out and calling 9-1-1, the resident of the home where the fire started tried to put it out himself. Twenty-six people were displaced.
UPS: The Garfield Fire Department will receive $32,165 in AFG funds to purchase PPPE and other equipment.
DOWNS: A 74-year-old woman died as the result of a July 27th fire in her Inman Ave. home in Edison, officials said. The woman was found in the upstairs bedroom.
UPS: Brian Cassidy has been promoted to fire captain in Linden. New fire lieutenants are Anthony Holland and Steven Cuco.
DOWNS: A passenger car driver was killed and another driver injured in a crash involving a small tanker truck and two passenger vehicles at Bergen St. & Madsion Ave., Newark, on July 28th. A car burst into flames, according to officials. The man driving the truck was treated at the scene.
UPS: New fire captains in Union are Eric Stroming, Mike Davitt, Chris Steitz and Robert Falzarano.
DOWNS: Flames broke out when cardboard and other trash ignited inside of the compactor under the parking garage at Shop at Riverside Mall in Hackensack, July 28th. The mall was evacuated as some smoke entered the shopping area. The smoke lingered for 90-minutes. The fire was extinguished by the mall's sprinkler system, said Fire Captain Justin Derevyanik.
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