Posted on August 5, 2006
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday afternoon, Bergenfield Fire dispatch received a call of smoke coming from the attic at 81 S. Summit Ave. Chief Hartung (740) arrived first and reported no smoke, but did have a smell in the house. Units checked the entire home and found an attic fan with a seized motor. Power to the unit was disconnected. Units operated on scene for 30 minutes.
Posted on August 14, 2006
At the July 18, 2006 meeting of the Mayor and Council, James Kirsch was officially promoted to Lieutenant of the Career staff of the Bergenfield Fire Department. Since 2003, Jim had been filling the position on a provisional basis while the Borough finalized the position's job duties and the promotional examination was completed.
Jim has been a career firefighter in Bergenfield since 1987 when he was appointed to the position of Lieutenant. Kirsch is the Bergenfield FD Training Officer and serves as the task force leader for the Bergen Regional Special Operations team. He is a state certified Level II Instructor and is also a member of the NJ USAR team, specializing in logistics.
Jim has been a member of Prospect Fire Company No. 1 for 24 years. He was Lieutenant from 1989-1991, Captain 1992-1994, Deputy Chief 1995-1996 and Chief of Department in 1997. He has served in many administrative positions within the Company including President.
Jim’s family and friends were present at the ceremony along with members of the Bergenfield Fire Department. The Officers and members of the Bergenfield Fire Department want to congratulate Jim on his promotion and wish him the best of luck in his new position.
Posted on August 15, 2006
On Tuesday evening at approximately 21:30 hrs, the Bergenfield Police requested the fire department to respond to 2 North Washington Ave. The PD was on scene investigating a burglar alarm at the Della Russo building when they began to smell something burning. A general alarm was sounded for the FD. Chief Hartung (740) was the first to arrive on scene and confirmed the report of something burning. As units arrived, they began to search the area. They looked all around the exterior and interior of 2 N. Washington and the surrounding buildings, but did not locate anything burning. The smell quickly dissipated. All units were off the scene in 45 minutes.
Posted on August 16, 2006
On Wednesday morning at 02:31 hrs, the Bergenfield Fire Department was dispatched on a general alarm for a report of a car fire next to a house. When Deputy Chief Gomez (DC2) arrived at 33 Bridge Street, he reported a working car fire in the driveway but not near the house. Chief Hartung (740) was next to arrive and assumed command while Engine 745 was first engine to the scene. Lt. Lodato along with Firefighters Slossar and Hart stretched an 1½ attack line and began to extinguish the fire. Members from the Rescue led by Captain Byrnes assisted with the extinguishment. The vehicle was heavily damaged as well as two other vehicles that were parked in the driveway. Units operated on scene for approximately 60 minutes.
Posted on August 12, 2006
Deputy Chief Polandick (DC 1) and Ladder 742 responded to New Milford on Saturday night to cover their fire department who was out of service. New Milford’s Company 1 was celebrating their 100th anniversary and had a fireworks show. Bergenfield units were staged at the read of Brookchester Shopping Center while the show went on. They did not take in any runs while covering.
Posted on August 19, 2006
On Saturday morning, Bergenfield Fire Co. No. 2 was dispatched on a still alarm to 4 No. Christie St. for activated alarms. The Bergenfield PD arrived on scene and reported a smoke condition and requested the alarm be upgraded to a general.
There was a fire in a dryer on the first floor and it was confined to the dryer. The building's sprinkler system kept the fire in check until the FD arrived on scene. First due Engine 743 pulled an 1¾ attack line and extinguished the remaining fire.
Englewood Truck 1, Teaneck Engine 1 and Bogota Engine 401 covered the Borough and took in a run to Hoover School.
Posted on August 30, 2006
At 03:53 hrs Alert Fire Co. was dispatched on a mutual aid assignment to the City of Englewood. Deputy 2 and Truck 742, with Captain Lorz in command headed to fire headquarters to cover the city while Englewood operated at a basement fire at 79 James Street. While enroute, they were redirected into the scene and were immediately put to work on the second floor. At 04:03 hrs, Prospect was dispatched to Englewood as well. The RESCUE was requested to respond directly to the scene on James Street. Captain Byrnes was in command and met up with Deputy 2 when they arrived in Englewood. The RESCUE was immediately put to work in the basement. The fire on James Street was in an old style colonial and initial reports were that the fire started in the basement. Due to the balloon frame construction, the fire swiftly traveled up the walls and into the second floor of the house. Three people died in the fire and a third is in critical condition. The EFD was able to get the other 10 people out, some with minor injuries. Bergenfield units operated at the scene for three hours.
