At approximately 0042 hrs., Central Dispatch requested a Bergenfield engine to respond to New Milford Company 1 to stand-by while they worked a fire in Oradell.



Engine 744 with a crew of 5 along with Deputy Chief Lopez (DC1) responded on the run.  While in New Milford they took in no calls and were returned in just over an hour.

Late in the morning of Saturday, January 14, 2012 the Bergenfield Fire
Department was dispatched to a North Washington Avenue gas station on the
report of a fire in the repair garage.  A general alarm assignment
consisting of two engines, ladder truck, rescue, and three chiefs responded
along with the Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps as a precaution due to
the potential for injury to firefighters.  First arriving police department
units confirmed a fire inside the building involving acetylene tanks and
provided updates to the Fire Chief.  Bergenfield Police Department officers,
under the direction of Sgt. Brian Dalton, quickly established a wide safety
perimeter on all surrounding streets and evacuated nearby pedestrians due to
the obvious risk if the cylinders ruptured.  Fire Chief James Lodato arrived
shortly after and established command of the incident, directing the first
due engine and ladder to take initial action to mitigate the emergency.
 

An adequate water supply was established by two area fire hydrants and a
hoseline was stretched into the gas station parking lot.  Firefighters
entered the service bays and were able to use a wheeled cart to remove the
oxygen and acetylene tanks from the building as a means to prevent the fire
from spreading to the two cars on service lifts.  Once outside the building
a water fog was utilized to cool both cylinders while the remaining gases
burned at their safety vents.  The temperature of both cylinders was
monitored via a thermal imaging camera and the cooling fog was effective at
preventing rupture of the cylinders.  Please see the photos below for a
screen shot of the thermal imaging camera showing both cylinders in bright
white, indicating the heat they had been subject to from the fire.

Within 45 minutes the cylinders had cooled and safety discharged their
gasses to the open air.  Fire units began to break down the hoselines and
hydrants allowing some traffic flow to be restored in the area.  An
investigation was initiated by fire department investigators and later
handed over to the Fire Official who took possession of the damaged cylinder
regulators and torch for further investigation.  Both cylinders, while
severely damaged by heat and flame, were able to be safely removed by the
gas supplier and all fire department apparatus departed the scene in just
over an hour.

Given the volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic on Washington Avenue on a
Saturday morning this incident created an increased risk of urgency for all
of the emergency responders.  The cooperation provided by Sgt. Dalton and
his officers along with the Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
complimented the response of the Bergenfield Fire Department to bring this
hazardous situation to a safe and uneventful conclusion.  The commitment and
skill of all involved agencies combined to turn a potentially disastrous
event into little more than traffic delays for some area motorists.

At 0710 hrs on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 the Bergenfield Fire Department was dispatched to a private residence on Rector Court for a carbon monoxide alarm activation.  A daytime still alarm consisting of two engines, ladder, and command officer responded to the call.  Upon arrival the resident reported waking to an activated alarm from her plug-in carbon monoxide detector.  Utilizing air monitoring equipment firefighters checked the premises and determined that no carbon monoxide levels were present.  By using two different air monitoring devices the fire department is able to ensure that the equipment is working properly, especially if no hazards are initially detected.  In this case the carbon monoxide alarm was just over 10-years old and was sounding a malfunction which is consistent with the end of its useful service life.  The resident was advised to replace the alarm with a new unit and all apparatus was available from the scene within 20-minutes.

Residents are reminded that both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms have a limited life expectancy.  Like most other electronic devices or appliances in our homes these alarms have a limited life cycle and their reliability can deteriorate over time.  Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced before they reach 10-years of service or at any point when they malfunction or suffer physical damage.  The statistical safety value of properly maintained smoke and carbon monoxide  alarms far exceeds their initial cost as they have a proven track record of detecting smoke and hazards before occupants are seriously injured or killed.

If you are elderly, handicapped, or otherwise unable to check your alarms and change the batteries please contact the Bergenfield Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau at (201) 387-4055 Ext. 4074 to request assistance.  The Bergenfield Fire Department does not charge for its responses to emergency calls or to assist residents.  Please feel free to call upon us at any time if a fire occurs or if you suspect a hazardous condition exists with your appliances or utilities.

Shortly after 1700 hrs on Sunday, January 8, 2012 the Bergenfield Fire Department responded with a general alarm assignment (3 engines, 1 ladder, 1 rescue, 2 chief officers) to a private residence on South Prospect Avenue for a reported fire condition in a refrigerator.  Upon arrival crews from the ladder and first due engine entered the residence and began checking the appliance and surrounding area.  The rescue and additional engines stood by with their manpower after securing a nearby hydrant. 

 Heat signatures were observed on the thermal imaging camera as the refrigerator was pulled away from the cabinets.  The power was disconnected and the service panels to the refrigerator were removed for further investigation.  No active fire conditions were found but the occupant reported orange glowing from the area of the defrost unit.  A complete check of the appliance was performed and the hazard was removed.  Fire department personnel advised the occupant to contact an authorized service provider to repair the appliance.  All fire department apparatus was off the scene within 30 minutes without injury.

 Residents are reminded that the Bergenfield Fire Department is available 24 hours per day to respond to fires, suspected fires, hazardous conditions, utility emergencies, and rescues.  Occupants should never delay calling 9-1-1 when they see or think a fire related problem is occurring in their home or with an appliance.  There is no charge for our services and it is always better to call for help sooner than later.  We are here for you.

At 0109 hrs. Mid-Bergen Mutual Aid requested a Bergenfield Truck to respond to Englewood Fire Hq.

The ladder under the command of Captain Saito and a crew of 4 along with DC Lopez responded on the run. Bergenfield stood-by with engines from Bogota and Leonia and took in no runs while there.  They were released and back in the borough in just over 2 hours.