Posted on April 15, 2007
The RESCUE was requested to respond to New Milford at 23:57 hrs on April 15, 2007 to assist with the evacuation of residents trapped in their homes due to flooding. Captain Jim Lodato was the officer on the rig along with Charlie Hartung, Owen Rynn, Andrew McGoldrick, David Tedesco and Rich O’Connor. Upon their arrival, New Milford FD Chief Dave Stormer informed us that he needed our members in the water. Deputy Chief Bob Byrnes responded to New Milford with the RESCUE as well.
Firefighters Rynn, McGoldrick and Tedesco donned our water rescue suits and were placed in the water. They made their way to several homes and assisted people out by placing them in boats. Bergenfield assisted in the removal of approximately 10 residents and 2 dogs. The RESCUE was back in service at 0330 hrs.
Posted on April 16, 2007
Members of the Bergenfield Fire Department responded to 79 calls for assistance due to the massive storm that rolled through on Sunday and Monday. The majority of calls were for homes with a great deal of water in the basements. In most cases, the FD was able to assist the residents by securing the utilities for them.
Posted on April 18, 2007
At 04:55 hrs, the Bergenfield FD was dispatched on a general alarm to 7 Moos Lane for a report of smoke coming from a stove. Deputy Chief Byrnes (DC2) arrived first and reported a smoke condition in the house. He ordered Captain Kneisler to take his truck crew into the house to find the cause of the smoke. Captain Kneisler reported a fire in the wall of the basement. Deputy Chief Gomez (DC1) arrived and assumed command and transmitted a confirmed fire in the basement.
Engine 745 was first due and layed a line into the scene and Captain Jim Lodato and Firefighter Chris Naylis stretched an 1½ preconnect into the basement and extinguished the fire. Captain Ray Van Saders was also in the basement working with the truck crew opening walls to check for extension. The RESCUE's crew was on the first floor opening the floor above the basement checking for extension. No extension was found. The cause of the fire is under investigation and seems to be electrical in nature.
New Milford FD was requested to the scene to stand-by as the RIT team and Dumont Engine 5 responded in for additional manpower. A Teaneck engine and Ridgefield Park truck responded to Alert firehouse to cover the borough. Units were clear of the scene in 90 minutes.
Posted on April 21, 2007
At 19:04 hrs. the BFD was dispatched to 50 Georgian Ct. for a report of smoke coming from under an apartment door at that location. Engine 743 was first due and Portable 7, (Lt. Lanzilotti), reported nothing showing while investigating. Deputy Chief Byrnes, Jr. arrived soon after and established command.
The initial report from Portable 7 was food on the stove with a smoke condition. After a check of the upstairs apartment, units traced the smoke to the downstairs apartment. As Portable 7 opened the exterior downstairs window, a heavy smoke condition was emitting from the apartment. DC Byrnes, Jr. called for a precautionary 1 3/4 line be stretched to the apartment. 743's crew forced the door and began to search for the source as firefighter's Hartung and C.Naylis preformed a primary search to look for the occupants. None were found.
A burned pot was found on the stove and removed while crews from Truck 742, second due Engine 745, and the RESCUE set up fans and vented both the up and downstairs apartments.
All units operated on scene for approximately 45 mins.
