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"The Berkeley Heights Fire Department is an organization committed to the life safety and preservation of property for all who reside, work, or travel through our township. The Berkeley Heights Fire Department pledges that its members will provide the highest level of emergency services, fire protection, technical rescue, and fire prevention outreach to the public twenty four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. It is our goal to continue with our century long tradition of service each day by being the most reliable, dedicated, and effective fire department for the Township of Berkeley Heights."

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News

Berkeley Heights assists Elizabeth FD at 8 Alarm Blaze

Berkeley Heights Squad 1 was intially requested for a cover assignment in Elizabeth on the evening of December 21, 2011 while units handled a large fire. Early on during the incident crews attempted to extinguish a deep seated fire inside the old Interbake Food building at 891 Newark Ave with an aggressive interior attack. Heavy fire and the 2 million square foot building caused many difficulties for the units on the scene. The incident continued to grow and later that night Squad 1 and its crew were moved up to the scene of the fire to help the battle the fire by supplying water to attack pumpers and ladders. For the next three days Berkeley Heights maintained a constant presence at the scene by rotating crews to support the incident which spanned multiple operational periods. On the morning of December 23, 2011 Squad 1 was returned to the township and Tower 1 responded to the scene to help flow water into the collapsed fire building. Demolition equipment assisted crews by removing exterior walls to allow for water to be applied to the fires which continued to burn in the basement of the structure. Elizabeth continued operating at the scene for the last three weeks extinguishing hot spots. This continued until January 14th when a large strike team of nearly a dozen high volume pumpers joined together to feed the Iron Man monitor. Squad 1 assisted by providing large diameter hose and pumping water from Newark to the attack units. Deputy Chief Wirkus estimated that at its maximum the monitor was flowing approximately 8,000 gallons per minute. This coordinated effort ultimately allowed Elizabeth to extinguish the fire completely and end this extended operation.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011-National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

On December 7, 1941, our Nation was viciously attacked at Pearl Harbor. Every year on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, America honors those brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our homeland, and we recognize those veterans who with strength and resolve defended our Nation and advanced the cause of freedom during World War II. On this day all federal buildings are required to fly the USA flag at half staff. Other entities and citizens are also encouraged to take part in honoring those American patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor by displaying their USA flags at half staff on this day. Flags are to fly at half staff from sunrise to sunset.

Recent BHFD Training

Members of the Berkeley Heights Fire Department have participated in a wide range of both basic and advanced training over the last few months. In February, Deputy Chief Paul Imbimbo Jr, Capt Jim Hopkins, Lt Dan Cuocci and FF Mike Schaumberg traveled to Texas to attend National Foam Flamable Liquids Fire Fiighting School for 4 days at Texas A&M (TEEX), the foremost flammable liquids firefighting school in the country. They learned about the risks and tools available to help save life and property in the event of a flammable liquids fire. Firefighters Kevin Condus and Tom English attended advanced Hazardous Materials training at Middlesex County Fire Academy. Over the course of two long weeks they learned about dangeous chemicals and the ways to safely handle them earning the title of HazMat Technician. Chief Padovano also participated in HazMat Specialist for Rail and tanker car training with FF English at Middlesex County in June. Over several days the two became educated in the challenging and dynamic dangers tank cars can pose. Capt Chris Esposito, Capt Jim Hopkins, and FF Mike Ambrose also furthered their education earlier this year. They attended a three month long Fire Officer 2 seminar hosted by the Somerset County Emergency Training Academy. Upon passing the NJ Division of Fire Safety exam they will join a small contingent of firefighters certified to this level in New Jersey. Capt Esposito also spent two days at the Linden Fire Department learning the intricacies of the Incident Management System. Deputy Chief Lathey Wirkus from the Elizabeth Fire Department instructed the class, covering many useful topics during his presentation of the ICS-400 program. The completion of the course will earn Capt Esposito his Incident Management Level III certification, an important benchmark used to qualify officers who may be tasked with the command and control of emergency scenes. The department would also like to congratulate FF Kyle Robbins on his completion of the Union County Fire Academy's Firefighter 1 & 2 program. Over five months of nights and weekends he learned the basic firefighting and life saving skills necessary to be a firefighter. Firefighters Anthony Delia and Matt Freudenberger have also completed a stand alone Firefighter 2 program put on by the Middlesex County Fire Academy. The three month long course covered many aspects of fire service delivery including fires, hazardous materials, and technical rescue situations. We congratulate all the members who attended training despite demanding schedules. These highly members will help this department continue to strive to provide the highest level of emergency services possible.

Back to Back Morning Extrications- Dec 16, 2010

On the morning of December 16th 2010 the Berkeley Heights Fire Department responded to a pair of extrication within an hour of each other. The first call, dispatched as a multi-vehicle collision on Rt 78 Westbound occurred at 8:30. First arriving State Police units reported a vehicle had been struck by a tractor-trailer and dragged several hundred feet down the roadway. The male driver was trapped by the mangled vehicle. Chief Padovano instructed Rescue 1 to set up for extrication on arrival. Firefighters removed the roof using the Hurst Jaws of Life to allow access to the patient. The driver’s side doors were also cut away for patient removal. The driver was removed from the vehicle and care transferred to the Berkeley Heights Rescue Squad. The second "cut job" occurred at 9:15 as firefighters were cleaning equipment and returning the tools to service from the last incident. Dispatch received multiple 9-1-1's reporting a multi-vehicle accident at the intersection of Diamond HIll Rd and Valley Rd involving up to five cars. Fire Police and EMS were all dispatched to the scene. First arriving units discovered a two car head on collision between a four door sedan and school minivan vehicle. The driver of the sedan was uninjured however the operator of the school vehicle required medical attention. The vehicle came to rest on the curb line in an precarious position requiring firefighters to stabilize the vehicle with wood blocks. After being assessed and stabilized by EMS, the Rescue company was called into action removing the "B" post which was hindering the removal of the driver. Berkeley Heights Rescue Squad transported the driver to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Union County Mutual Aid Request to Elizabeth - Nov 25, 2010

November 25th (Thanksgiving) Squad-1 was requested by Union County Mutual Aid to respond to cover the City of Elizabeth while they battled a 4 alarm fire in a 3 story multi family building on Magie ave. The fire broke out about 1am. 3 people were trapped by the flames were rescued by Elizabeth Firefighters. 2 Firefighters were treated at the Hospital. This fire required a county wide response, other Departments that assisted at the scene or provided cover where Union, Linden, Roselle, Roselle Park, Cranford, Garwood, Scotch Plains, New Providence, Springfield, Hillside.

Storms Flood Berkeley Heights FD With Calls - Mar 13-15, 2010

The month of March proved to be a very demanding month for the Berkeley Heights Fire Department. From March 13 to March 15 the department responded to in excess of fifty calls for assistance. These incidents included assisting neighborhoods isolated by flooded roads, especially those homeowners whose basements took on water. The busy weekend culminated with a water rescue call for a vehicle stranded in the flooded Passaic River. During these calls, department members secured electrical power and gas to hot water heaters and furnaces located in the effected homes to prevent further problems. Firefighters also advised residents near the Passaic river of the rising waters and encouraged them to find a alternative place to stay for the night. Then on March 15 at approximately 6:30 am the Berkeley Heights Police received a 911 call from the driver of a vehicle stranded on Bridge Street. The driver reports he was trapped in his car which became disabled as he attempted to cross the flooded bridge into Chatham Township. Although the car was in Chatham, Berkeley Heights units were first on scene and established command. Mutual aid was requested from Chatham Township FD and New Providence FD. New Providence firefighters responded with an engine company and rescue boat. Firefighters from Chatham Twp provided lighting while New Providence crews accessed the vehicle and removed the patient in twenty minutes. Berkeley Heights FD members provided support for the water rescue crew. Atlantic Healthcare EMS -11 provided medical care for the victim who did not experience any life threatening injuries.

Mutual Aid Resquest to Elizabeth - Feb 12, 2010

At 4:15 am Union County Mutual Aid requested an Engine to respond to the City of Elizabeth as part of a 4th alarm to a fire in a commercial building on Elizabeth ave, Squad-1 responded along with a Roselle Park Engine and a Union Ladder, Squad-1 and its crew assisted at the scene for approximately 2 hours before being released and returned to the Township

BHFD Receives Grant for Two New Tools - Jan 29, 2010

BHFD recently received a grant from Fireman's Fund Insurance that allowed the department to purchase two new rescue tools, a new spreader and new combi tool. The new spreaders are replacing the original ones that the department purchased in the 1970s. The new tools will enhance the departments rescue capability by replacing the older tool that required two firefighters to operate with a tool that can be operated by a single firefighter. The combi tool will also allow the department to operate more efficiently with a more capable and powerful tool. Both tools will be added to the newly purchased Rescue 1 that will be arriving shortly.