Posted on July 17, 2008

At 18:18 hrs, the Mid-Bergen Mutual Aid Group requested a Bergenfield Engine to respond to Teaneck Fire Headquarters and stand by while Teaneck operated at a working fire at 1320 Hastings Street.  Teaneck had been dispatched for a reported house explosion and fire.  First arriving units found the entire structure reduced to rubble and a heavy fire condition.  Deputy Chief Byrnes and Engine 745 under the command of Lt. Buehler responded.

  Shortly after that Hastings Street command requested the Hackensack Special Ops and the Bergen Regional Special Ops. teams to the scene.  Bergenfield Rescue 746 under the command of Captain Lodato and Utility 732 with the S.O. trailer responded in and Engine 745 was relocated to the scene after taking in a run around the corner from the fire.  Once the gas to the structure was secured by PSEG both Special Ops teams began to search for possible victims.  Both teams working together located one male victim in the rubble. The Bergen Country Sheriffs Dept. used their dogs to search for any additional victims, but none were found.

  The Bergen Regional Special Operations Team is comprised of members from Bergenfield, Dumont, Englewood, Fort Lee and Tenafly Fire Departments.  Bergenfield firefighter Jim Kirsch is the task force leader for the Bergen Regional Special Ops team and Deputy Chief Bob Byrnes is the team leader for Bergenfield.  All Bergenfield units were back and in service by 2:00 AM.

Posted on July 29, 2008

On Friday night members of the Bergenfield FD participated in the opening ceremonies of the Little League State Tournament held at Hickey Field.  Bergenfield is the host town for this year’s tournament and the BFD was asked to have our Honor Guard present the colors.  Alert members Lt. Christopher Saito, Joseph Lorz, Michael Mertz, and Edward J Kneisler III served in the Honor Guard.

  On Sunday afternoon, the BFD was asked to do a demonstration for the players and families involved in the tournament.  Members cut a van up and were on hand to explain the process that the FD goes through.  They also let the kids check out the rig and explained all of the tools involved in extricating victims from auto crashes.

  Ex-Chief Jerry Naylis of Prospect Fire Co. was on hand on Monday night to sing the National Anthem before the game and his Daughter Cindy sang the National Anthem on Friday night and is scheduled to sing on Tuesday night as well.

Posted on July 22, 2008

At 14:00 hrs Engine 745 was requested to respond to Teaneck Fire Headquarters on a cover-up assignment while Teaneck battled a 2^nd alarm fire in the basement of a garden apartment complex.  DC Kneisler and the engine under the command of Lt. Kirsch responded with a crew of five.  They remained in Teaneck for 90 minutes and took in no runs.

Posted on July 15, 2008

At approximately 08:18 hrs, the Dumont FD requested one engine to cover their town and a ladder to the scene of a working apartment fire at 60 Columbia Avenue.  Deputy Chief Kniesler (DC2) and Ladder 742 under the command of Lt. Kirsch responded to the scene while Engine 743 responded to Independent firehouse.  Prior to the ladders arrival, the main body of fire was knocked down and the ladder provide fans for ventilation.  All units were clear of Dumont in 90 minutes. 

Thanks to Brett Dzadik for the pictures.  Please visit the links section to see more of Brett's pictures. 

Posted on July 15, 2008

At approximately 10:35 hrs, the Dumont FD requested an engine and ladder from Bergenfield to respond to their town while they worked an attic fire.  Ladder 742 was headed into the scene but was returned prior to their arrival and Engine 743 staged at Truck 2 on Prospect Avenue.  The engine was back in quarters within 60 minutes.