At their August monthly meeting, the members of Bergenfield Fire Co. No. 2 were faced with having to replace their Captain, Ray Van Saders.  Ray had been Captain since January 1, 2006 and unfortunately he and his family have relocated out of Bergenfield. Ray felt that it would be best to step down at this time.  Jason Lanzilotti has moved up from his Lieutenant’s position to Captain and Norman Hoyt, Jr. was elected Lieutenant.  The moves are effective immediately and the entire department wishes Ray, Jason and JR the best of luck.

At the Board of Fire Officers meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2008, Colin Swift of Fire Co. 2 was elevated from probationary to active status. Colin previously served with the East Rutherford Fire Department and rose to the rank of Assistant Chief.

We would like to congratulate Colin and welcome him aboard.

At 2353hrs, Mid-Bergen Mutual Aid requested a Bergenfield engine to respond to Teaneck Fire Hq. and cover while they battled a fire at 161 Sherman Avenue.  Chief Gomez and engine 745 under the command of Captain Lodato responded.  After a 10 minute stay in TFD headquarters the Engine was sent to the scene a along with a Bogota engine and Ridgefield Park truck.  

Initially the members of the engine crew was assigned a hose line on the exterior of the structure and they tried to extinguish heavy fire in the roof.  They were then reassigned to take their handline to the attic and extinguish pockets of fire and continue to perform overhaul of the area.  The engine was released and back in service by 0323 hrs. 

Mid-Bergen also requested Ladder 742 to respond to Teaneck Fire Hq. to take the spot of the Ridgefield Park ladder.  Deputy Chief Kneisler and the ladder under the command of Captain Lopez responded. They were dispatched at 0010 hrs and stood-by with engine companies from Leonia, Ridgefield Park, and South Hackensack.  They took in no calls and were back in quarters at 0600hrs.

Bergenfield units were kept busy this afternoon when a strong line of storms came through the area.  All three companies went to work around town.  Units responded to various locations for activated fire alarms and CO alarms.  All units responded to 16 Dick Street on a reported basement fire that was unfounded.  DC Kniesler and Engine 744 under the command of Lt. Saito took in a cover assignment to the Borough of New Milford.  New Milford had units in River Edge at a 2^nd alarm fire and Bergenfield took in some runs while in New Milford.

At 2114 hrs, Mid-Bergen Mutual Aid requested Bergenfield’s Ladder to respond to Teaneck Fire Headquarters to cover while they had a working fire.  Deputy Chief Byrnes and Ladder 742 responded under the command of Lt. Buehler.  They remained in quarters and took in no runs.  They were back in town in less than 2 hours.

At 1421 hrs. the Bergen Regional Special Operations team was requested in the Borough of Leonia.  A construction worker was injured when he fell approx 25 feet into a pit. DC Byrnes, Lt. Kirsch and FF A. McGoldrick responded to the scene with the 732 and the trailer. The victim was rescued by members of the Leonia FD and Englewood FD just before the team’s arrival.  The victim was hoisted to safety and removed to an area hospital.   Bergenfield units were back in town by 1529 hrs.

At 2213 hrs, the New Milford FD requested Bergenfield’s RIT to respond to 51 Prospect St. for a working fire in a single family residential dwelling.  Chief Gomez (740) and RESCUE 746, under the command of Captain Lodato responded.  The RIT set-up, but was not used and returned in 60 minutes.