A stormy, but quiet Saturday afternoon for the Bergenfield Volunteer Fire Department turned into an extremely busy Saturday night and Sunday. 

It all started shortly past 6:00 pm on Saturday night when Prospect Fire Co. No 1 was dispatched on a still alarm for reported wires arching across from 51 Spring Avenue. As Deputy Chief Lodato (DC2) arrived on scene Prospect was being toned out along with members of the Bergen Regional Special Operations (BRSO) team.  The RESCUE and BRSO were requested in Fort Lee for a building collapse with a possible victim trapped.  At the same time the desk informed DC 2 that they had trees and wires down and on fire on Graphic Blvd.  DC 2 requested a general alarm for that assignment. 

DC Lodato, Squad 732 with the trailer and the RESCUE under the command of Capt. Buehler and a crew of 5 responded to Fort Lee while Deputy Chief Byrnes, Sr. (DC1) and the remaining BVFD units handled many calls of wires down, wires on fire, trees on fire, trees into structures, gas leaks, flooded basements, and generator calls. 

Upon their arrival in Fort Lee, members went right to work.  BRSO Team Leader Jim Kirsch met with command and they made an assessment of what needed to be done.  The Fort Lee FD and many East Bergen towns were working to clear a stairwell of heavy concrete, bricks and granite that had fallen into it when the building was struck by a commercial vehicle.  Bergenfield members made their way to the parking garage where Fort Lee RESCUE had cut a large hole in the door that led from the parking garage to the street.  BRSO members Jim Kirsch and Charlie Hartung along with members of the Bergenfield and Fort Lee Rescue companues began working on getting through the large debris using Pak Hammers.  Once all the debris was cleared they were able to notify command that the stairwell was all clear.

Once all Bergenfield units were released from Fort Lee they returned back to Bergenfield and continued answer alarms through out the evening and all of Sunday.