Today the Bergenfield Fire Department lost a family member.  Former member and Ex-Captain Ray Van Saders of Company 2 lost is battle with cancer.  Ray joined the department in 2000 and served as Lieutenant in 2005 and Captain from 2006 through the middle of 2008. 

Ray and his family relocated to River Vale, NJ where Ray was able to join the River Vale Fire Department and serve his new community proudly until his passing.  Ray also served as the Fire Official in Dumont, NJ for the past several years.

The Van Sader family will be receiving friends on Saturday September 4, 2010 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Riewerts Memorial Home located 187 S. Washington Ave., Bergenfield, NJ.  The River Vale, Bergenfield and Dumont Fire Departments will be on hand to honor our friend and brother.

We ask that you keep Ray’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

On Tuesday September 21, members of the New Apparatus Committee visited the KME factory in Nesquehoning, PA.  The new engine is only a couple of months away from delivery.  The new engine will replace our 1982 Hahn. 

The committee will be out at the factory again next month and then one more time for the final inspection.

At 2221 hrs, Prospect Fire Co. was dispatched on a still alarm to 456 So. Washington Avenue for the reported activated fire alarm and dispatched notified the company of a motor vehicle crash in the same area. Deputy Chief Lodato (DC2) called in service and was updated by Chief Kniesler (740) that a car had crashed into the building and the two occupants were trapped.

 
Upon his arrival on scene, DC2 established command and determined the occupants were not trapped, but rather shaken and possibly injured.  The Bergenfield PD had requested ALS and BLS units to the scene.  DC2 instructed Engine 745 to stretch a dry line upon their arrival and the Rescue to clear an area for victim removal. Chief Kniesler left the scene to respond with Alert on another alarm in the Prospect district.

It was quickly determined by DC Lodato and Captain Naylis that the buildings structural integrity may have been compromised in the crash and shoring was going to be needed to secure the building.  DC2 upgraded the call to a general alarm and requested the Bergenfield and Englewood members of the Bergen Regional Special Operations team to respond to the scene.  The victims were assessed by members of the BVAC and safely removed and transported to the hospital to be checked out.

Engine 743 under the command of Captain Lanzilotti and a crew of 4 secured a water supply and sent their manpower to the scene to begin assisting with multiple tasks.  Once cleared of the other call Ladder 742 and Engine 744 under the command of Captain Lopez responded to the scene and remained in service from for any add’l calls in the borough.  Company 2 also responded with Squad 732 and the Bergen Regional Special Ops. trailer.

Lt. Jim Kirsch, the Bergen Regional Task Force Leader took over the interior operations working with the Bergenfield and Englewood members to shore up the exterior window and ceiling. Bergenfield members secured the utilities and sprinkler system to the building and then checked the basement for damage as well.  Once the vehicle was removed from the building the operation was completed and the building was turned back over to the owners.   Bergenfield members of the BRSO team that were on scene along with Lt. Kirsch were firefighters R. Byrnes, Jr., C. Hartung and O. Rynn. 

All fire department units were clear of the scene in just over 3 hours. We would like to thank all of the Bergenfield Fire Department members for an excellent job as well as the Bergenfield PD, BVAC and Englewood Fire Department for their assistance.