DOWNS: One person died as the result of a fire in a three-story dwelling on Kaighns av., Camden, Nov. 11^th.

UPS: The Township of Wayne has upgraded its automated external defibrillator resources by purchasing new AED's for each of the five fire companies, according to a Facebook post.  

DOWNS: A fire consumed 16 units of the Pine Hill Mansions apartment complex on Branch av., Nov. 12^th. Five police officers who rescued residents from inside the building were taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation, according to Police Chief Christopher Winters. Nearly 30 people were displaced.  

UPS: In November, a mother banged on the door of Paterson Fire Headquarters, on Mc Bridge av., seeking help. Her four-month-old daughter was choking on liquid medicine and turning blue. Fire Marshal Pedro Cartagena quickly took the baby to perform life-saving back blows. The crew from EMS 7 then took over. After several attempts, the obstruction in the baby's airway was clear and the girl's color began to return to normal. Firefighters Kenneth Hicks and Mike Oates assisted to make sure the baby's airway was clear and monitored her breathing. The infant was taken to a pediatrician to make sure everything was back to normal, according to News Break.    

DOWNS: Four Newark firefighters were injured battling a 3-alarm fire on Seymour av., overnight on Nov. 15^th. It started in an unoccupied building and extended to two occupied dwellings, according to Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda.  The four members were injured by a partial collapse in the rear of one of the occupied buildings, the director added.  Three of them were treated and released from University Hospital. A fire captain remained hospitalized with face and back injuries, according to NJ.com. 

UPS: The talented students of Raritan H.S.'s TV production team assembled a recruitment video for the local fire companies. The project highlights a call to join one of Hazlet's three fire companies. The video invites viewers into the firehouses of West Keansburg, North Centerville and Hazlet Fire Company.  

DOWNS: A fire involved six homes along Mc Guire St. in Woodbridge, destroying two of them, on Nov. 21^st. Police arrested a homeowner on arson charges, according to News 12. The homeowner struggled with police officers and four were injured. They were hospitalized along with the homeowner, who appeared to have injured himself while setting the fire.  

UPS: Westwood Firefighter Bill Quinn and George Armstrong have completed 50-years of service with their volunteer fire department.  

DOWNS: On the morning of Nov. 19^th, Hackensack fire units were dispatched to the area of Summit av. and American Legion Dr. for a report of a person that had fallen to railroad tracks below. City firefighters performed a high-angle rope rescue, quickly accessing, stabilizing and packaging the victim for transport to HUMC, according to a Facebook post.  

UPS: Mike Boudaher has been promoted to battalion chief in Passaic.

DOWNS: A 5-alarm fire raced through three attached buildings on Avenue C, Bayonne, that displaced 16 residents on Nov. 22^nd. Children on the ground floor in a daycare center at 460 Ave. C were safely evacuated, according to the Jersey Journal.   

UPS: Newly promoted fire captains in Passaic are Mark Mastaj and Hershel Rawls IV.

DOWNS: Lyndhurst firefighters responded to a dwelling fire, with a report of people trapped on Jay av. around 5:30 a.m., December 5^th. There was heavy fire in the basement of the two-story home. It was reported that four residents were trapped. Two had jumped from second-floor windows before firefighters arrived. They were taken to a local hospital.  Another resident was located standing on a small roof and assisted to safety by firefighters. A fourth was located by firefighters and taken outside where CPR was performed and then transported to the hospital. This victim died the following day, according to NorthJersey.com.   

UPS: New fire lieutenants in Passaic are Justin Jones and Beda Bautista.  

DOWNS: A 5-alarm fire at an Inman Avenue senior living residence, in Edison, displaced some 200 occupants, Dec. 2^nd.  Ten were taken to the hospital. Many residents struggled to escape the fire building, according to News 12.

UPS: Father Bareno and Father Zungia were recently named Passiac Fire Department Chaplains. 

DOWNS: Two residents of a Hamilton av. dwelling in Kearny died as the result of a two-alarm fire, Dec. 6^th.  Two victims were taken to area hospitals where they died, according to the Jersey Journal.  

UPS: A 5-year-old dog was rescued from the shallows of the Hudson River by Edgewater firefighters in December. While the owner was walking Max, he began jumping in circles, and pulling on his leash, and caused the leash to open. Five days later he was rescued. The owner notified area police departments and posted a notice of his lost pet on local Facebook groups. Max was located and Ladder 4's crew was able to retrieve the dog from the river with a ground ladder.  He was turned over to the Bergen County Animal Control. Max was examined by the Veterinary Emergency Group in Clifton. Other than being scared and dehydrated, he was fine and turned over to his owner, according to NorthJersey.com.  

DOWNS: A firefighter was injured at a fire involving a Spruce St. dwelling in Camden, Dec. 3^rd. Several people were rescued out of a second-floor window and taken to an area hospital for smoke inhalation, according to WPVI-TV. The firefighter sustained a shoulder injury and was also taken to the hospital.   

UPS: The Dunellen Fire Department recently held a grand opening for the George W. Hodulik Firehouse. The building had been shut down since a fire broke out in October, 2021. Truck 1 caught fire in the apparatus bay. The fire resulted in the loss of Truck 1, Engine 3, Fire-Rescue and Utility 6. It also caused extensive smoke damage throughout the building.  The department has new E-One apparatus for Engine 3 and Truck 4. Engine 2 was refurbished by E-One and returned to duty in late 2022.  

DOWNS: More than a dozen residents of a Euclid av. boarding house, in Hackensack, were displaced due to a fire, Dec. 2^nd. 

UPS: The Little Ferry Fire Department received a donation from Scientific Design Corporation to train 18 members in advanced techniques for rescuing individuals entrapped in machinery, according to a department FaceBook post.  

DOWNS: Hopatcong Fire Captain Henry Sardina was leading a drill when he suffered an apparent heart attack on Nov. 21^st.  Sardina was unresponsive, but firefighters revived him by performing CPR. He was transported to a local hospital, but he suffered additional complications and cardiac emergencies in the days that followed. The captain died in the hospital on Nov. 24^th. Captain Sardina was a member of Defiance Engine Co. 3 and served the department for 13-years, according to a news release.  

UPS: Garfield Fire Co. 1 has recognized ex-Chief Arthur Andreano and company President Glenn Mati for 50-years of active service.