Fire

Your Fire Department responded to 3,483 alarms in 1997. The alarms were received as:

Besides fires, we also responded to vehicle extrications, structural collapses, flooding, assistance to Ambulance Corps, utility failures, alarm system failures, and weather related problems. To report a fire, residents are urged to use the Township Fire Alarm Boxes and/or the fire emergency number (911) for the quickest, most reliable fire responses service. On average, fire personnel responded two minutes quicker to signals from fire alarm boxes and this is a significant difference during the early stages of a fire.

While there was a decrease in the amount of calls in 1997, we continued to have many serious calls. Seven houses and one business were seriously damaged, along with several injuries at these calls. Residents must also be careful as we continue to see a lot of fires caused by unattended cooking. These fires have spread in the past and caused tremendous damage and deaths.

The fire department also undertook a town wide inspection to the unsupported masonry walls above the flat roofs of commercial and multi-family dwellings. You will find many of these throughout Teaneck's four business districts. Several unsafe and many other potentially unsafe walls were found, and our findings were turned over to the building department for corrective action.

The Fire Department participation in the Mid Bergen Mutual Aid Association with Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood, Hackensack, Ridgefield Park and South Hackensack remains unchanged. The association also sponsors the Hazardous Materials Response Team, which includes 18 communities for primary haz-mat response.

The haz-mat team responded to a variety of calls in 1997. Most of these responses in the member communities were handled by their fire department haz-mat members. The entire team had to respond to several major calls during the year. The most severe occurred in Tenafly, where a fully loaded, 8,900 gallon gasoline tanker truck was leaking after an accident and required the assistance of the Teaneck FD's Haz-Mat members as well as the County Health Department and the State Department of Environmental Protection.

The Department has in place extensive fire protection and fire prevention programs. The fire prevention bureau conducted approximately 6,100 fire prevention activities which include fire and building inspections and re-inspections, building plan reviews and meetings with contractors, business owners and developers. These inspections and meetings occur before and during construction to insure compliance with the New Jersey Uniform Building Code and Fire Safety Act. The Principal goal of the fire prevention program involves inspection of existing buildings to maintain a high level of life safety for building occupants. Neighborhood fire companies conducted about 1,900 inspections of commercial buildings and occupancies to insure proper storage conditions and adequate maintenance of existing facilities to comply with the NJ State Uniform Fire Code. In addition, over 1100 inspections and re-inspections of residential smoke detectors were made in 1997 pursuant to state requirements in the resale of private homes and re-rental of rental units. The Bureau is also responsible for the investigation of all fires which occur in the township. The investigators are conducted with cooperation from local, County, State, and Federal agencies. These include local police, County Prosecutors, Arson Task Force, State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

The Fire Alarm Bureau underwent professional training provided by International Municipal Signal Association instructors. Three firefighters, one fire lieutenant and two township electricians were certified in the maintenance and supervision of the municipal fire signal system. In addition, two fire captains, one fire lieutenant and two township electricians were qualified in the analysis of interior fire alarm systems. Other fire departments and private contractors were attracted to these classes and attended along with the Teaneck personnel. Maintenance of the system has become more pro active and less reactive due to the increased awareness of involved personnel. Nineteen percent of actual fires in buildings were reported via the fire alarm box system.

Uniformed members of the Department attend continuing education courses covering a wide variety of subjects including fire-fighting, health and safety, arson detection, Firefighter 2, Firefighter 3, Heavy Rescue, CPR, and fire incident command. In 1997 Department members continued to expand their knowledge by also taking additional optional fire schooling such as fire engine pump operations and certified first responder. In addition, members participate in in-service company training to increase their level of expertise. Haz-mat team members comply with OSHA mandated training requirements. This Haz-mat training is conducted at State academies and in -house by team member certified State instructors.

Box 54 Fire Service Support Unit, a pioneer in Fireground rehabilitation, is the only service of its kind in Bergen County. Established in 1952 and working out of Teaneck Fire Headquarters, this all-volunteer unit responds to fires and emergencies throughout the county around the clock. This unit provides nourishing refreshment to firefighters and emergency workers and also provides emergency communication if necessary as the truck is equipped with tri-state communication capability.

The new safety-rated fire gear worn by firefighters, hazardous materials crews, etc. creates greater demand on the body for rehydration as per the research and recommendations by the U.S. Fire administration on nutritional needs of firefighters/emergency workers. Members of Box 54 are trained to recognize and attend to those needs and many are further trained in CPR, Haz-Mat, Incident Command, and other fire related fields, Box 54 members continued to refresh their training and provide training in Fire ground rehabilitation to firefighters, EMT's and auxiliary personnel throughout Bergen County and have also provided the training to other rehabilitation units in Jersey City and Newark.

In 1997 Box 54 responded to 120 calls, of which 22 were for Teaneck fires and emergencies. In July 1997, Box 54 acquired another truck known as Field Unit Two. The members raised the funds for the purchase of this used vehicle and are currently refurbishing the truck to meet their specific needs with additional necessary equipment. Though it is a smaller version of Field Unit One, it is a very necessary piece of apparatus as it is not unusual for Box 54 to be called to more than one fire or emergency at the same time. Field Unit Two responded to 10 calls in 1997.

The unit is currently seeking bids to replace their ice machine. Funding of supplies is from donations made by Teaneck and other fire departments. Call 837-2085 for further information about joining or contributing funds or supplies.

Information about the Fire Department

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