Your Fire Department responded to 3,438 alarms in 1998. The alarms were received as:

Besides fires, we also respond to vehicle extrications, structural collapses, flooding, assistance to the 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, 911 and/or the fire emergency number (837-7783) for the quickest, most reliable fire response service. On average, fire personnel respond two minutes quicker to signals from fire alarm boxes and this is a significant difference during the early stages of a fire. With the year 2000 approaching, the fire department has taken steps to insure Y2K compliance. We encourage you to program our seven digit number (837-7783) into your telephone speed dialer should there be a problem with the 911 system. If the entire phone system should fail, the township fire alarm boxes will be available for you to report any emergency. You should make a note of the location of the one closest to your horse today.

There were many serious fires in 1998. The most serious occurred in a large detached garage behind a house on Franklin Road where a resident died after receiving 100% burns over his body in an accidental fire. A similar tragedy was narrowly averted in an apartment on Teaneck Road, where a woman fell asleep in her bed while smoking a cigarette. Teaneck firefighters made an aggressive search and saved the woman from the burning room even before a hose line was in place. Coordinated efforts of all fire units and the Teaneck Vol. Ambulance Corps resulted in the woman being revived, and the apartment being saved with moderate damage.

Last year was surprising in that the majority of the serious fires were in commercial buildings and multiple dwellings, rather than in single family homes. Beside the man killed, four residents were injured, and about twenty driven out of their homes by fire. Worn or improperly-installed electric outlets and the misuse of extension cords as permanent wiring led to a third of the serious fires, and many more of the 67 less serious fires in buildings. Careless smoking led to three of the four civilian injuries.

All Fire Department members were certified as medical First Responders in 1998. We also received six semi-automatic defibrillators from Hackensack University Medical Center. All training for the above was conducted in-house by TFD staff. The defibrillators are located on all first line fire equipment in Teaneck for a quick response when the Fire Department is requested.

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 1998. 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 Leonia, where a fully loaded tar truck fueled by Propane exploded and burned several cars, a school bus and homes 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 which helped to reduce total calls in 1998. The fire prevention bureau conducted approximately 6,000 fire prevention activities which includes 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 approximately 1,800 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 1200 inspections and re-inspections of residential smoke detectors were made in 1998 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 investigations 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 continued their aggressive preventive maintenance program. About 90% of the wires that connect fire alarm boxes to the overhead lines have been changed in the last five years, and mechanical splices, which can loosen, have largely been replaced by higher-quality splicing materials. Additional lighting protection and test points have been added along the overhead lines. Aggressive preventive maintenance is less costly than corrective repairs, but more important, causes the fire alarm system to be as reliable and trouble-free as possible.

Teaneck's municipal fire alarm system continued to be the best way to report fires, smoke and other emergencies to the fire department. The fire alarm boxes are completely separate from the telephone company, and have days of back-up power. They will work even when the phones or power is out. This will prove crucial in early 2000 as other reporting systems may not work due to unforeseen problems. A third of the serious fires in 1998 were reported via the fire alarm boxes, some of which interface with building alarm systems making notification automatic. Boxes were also pulled for a serious collision where three teenagers were injured, including one unconscious, and for a man who tripped and fell, knocking himself unconscious on a secluded sidewalk late at night. Several smaller fires, dozens of smoke emergencies, and a dozen serious water leaks were also reported via the system. The problem of calling 911 from a Cell Phone were again highlighted by a resident of a house on South Prospect Terrace, who reported serious delays in being connected to the Teaneck Fire Dept. due to the inherent lack of automatic location identification of wireless phones. When the resident tried to report the fire, it was still small, but by the time the call eventually reached Fire Headquarters, flames were blowing from the windows. Residents should know the location of the fire alarm box closest to their home.

Uniformed members of the Department attend continuing education courses covering a wide variety of subjects including firefighting, health and safety, arson detection, Firefighter 2, Firefighter 3, Heavy Rescue, CPR, and fire incident command. Department members continued to expand their knowledge by also taking additional optional fire schooling. 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 fluids and nourishment to firefighters and other emergency personnel and also provides emergency communication whenever necessary as the trucks are equipped with tri-state communication capability.

The 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 Awareness, Incident Command, and other fire related fields. Box 54 members continued to refresh their training and provide training in Fireground 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 1998 Box 54 responded to 89 calls, of which 19 were for Teaneck fires and emergencies. 1998 saw the introduction of two new vehicles obtained by Box 54. A 1994 Recreational Vehicle (valued at $50,000) was donated by the Bergen County 200 Club. This vehicle was modified to accommodate the needs of emergency personnel at major incidents, thus it is known as a Major Incident Rehabilitation Vehicle (MIRV). A 1985 Dodge Ram was also acquired that has proven a tremendous help in ferrying additional personnel, supplies, etc., to fire scenes. As it is not unusual for Box 54 to be called to more than one fire or emergency at the same time, these units allow the Box 54 Unit multi-response capability. Funding of supplies for Box 54 is from donations made by Teaneck and other fire departments. Call 837-2085 for further information about joining or contributing funds or supplies.

General Information of Fire Department

Chief:                              William Norton
Phone:                            837-4858
To report a fire, call 911 or 837-7783
All other business, call 837-2085

In addition to responding to all fire alarms, the Department is often called out to auto accidents, rescue missions and other emergencies.

FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT: The Department is the enforcement Agency for the Township's Fire Code, which is aimed at controlling the potential of hazards in all structures in the community except owner-occupied one and two family homes.

FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS: The Fire Code mandates periodic inspections of all commercial business, industrial and office buildings in the community. All new construction, including renovations and additions, is inspected by a fire specialist before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Residents may request an inspection of their premises to determine whether fire hazards exist. A fire-prevention specialist will make a comprehensive examination of the resident's home or apartment and prepare a list of recommendations for changes that will greatly reduce the possibility of fire. All residences upon resale and all rental units upon rental, in accordance with state mandate, are inspected for required smoke detectors.

GOOD MORNING CHECK-UP PROGRAM: Designed for shut-ins and senior citizens who live alone and have no one to look after them on a regular basis, this program provides a telephone call seven days a week between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. If there is no answer to the first call, a second call is made in about five minutes. If there is no answer to the second call, a firefighter is dispatched to the house to make sure all is well. Before starting the service, a department representative interviews the applicant to obtain pertinent medical data which may be invaluable in an emergency.

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU: The bureau provides a wide range of functions, including

inspections, issuance of licenses and permits, enforcement of the Township code, fire protection inspections and investigations of all fires for cause. In case of arson, the bureau coordinates with the Police Department, the county Prosecutor, the county arson squad and other state and federal agencies.

FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION: The Prevention Bureau presents educational programs at all school levels, from elementary through college. It also has speakers to present fire prevention to local civic organizations.

FIRE SERVICE SUPPORT UNIT: Box 54 Fire Service Support unit is a canteen/communications fireground support service consisting of four vehicles staffed entirely by volunteers and founded in 1952. These CEC Step-Vans (2), 1994 Recreational Vehicle (RV) and 1985 Dodge Ram are maintained, licensed and insured by the township and housed at Fire Headquarters and Fire Station 2. The two GMC trucks are equipped with two 25 gallon (hot & cold) water tanks, propane fired stove, oven coffee urns, barbecue, serving equipment, etc. The 1994 RV is used for rehabilitation at major incidents and the Dodge Ram is used to ferry supplies and personnel. Two freezers and refrigeration units at headquarters contain enough food provisions to feed 200 people and include Kosher food item. 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.

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