A busy week saw our volunteers responding to eight calls for assistance. Monday brought three, a CO alarm at 07:50 from a home on Durante Place, an multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of Wyckoff Avenue and Monroe Street brought Engine 2 and Rescue 1 to spread speedi-dry on a fluid spill from one of the vehicles at 18:23. Finally on Monday at 20:22, an unintentional alarm sounding at the Middle School gym brought Engines 1 & 2, Ladder 1 to the scene. Tuesday had two calls, another fluid spill from a MC on Route 17 at 11:01 and a fluid spill from a school bus on Van Court at 15:36. Again speedi-dri was spread on both spills. 
 
Wednesday had the Department responding to a report of a man trapped under a vehicle, see story below. Thursday at 20:24 a mutual aid request from the Allendale FD for one engine had Engine 631 responding. Engine 1 arrived on scene and stood by at a hydrant while AFD crews checked out a source of smoke in the condo units on Franklin Turnpike across from the Allendale PD HQ. Finally a gas main break on Saturday in the parking lot of the Village School which was caused by the failure of the retaining wall along the HoHoKus Brook, see story below.
 
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Our new Mayor and Fire Commissioner, Tom Giordano and Andy Brennecke, were presented with white fire helmets with gold shields by Chief Warr and his Line Officers.  Tom was also given two hats, one for his Mayor's title and the other for his President's title by the Chief so he be sure who he was talking too.  But we all be sure that you are always talking to Tom, your friend.

To see all the pictures from the 2012 Installation Dinner, click on the link.

This years Chief's Award went to Christopher Moses.  Presented at the annual Installation Dinner by Chief's Warr, Flatten and Agugliaro, Chris started his tenure with the WFD in 2005.  It was noted by Chief Warr that Chris always makes sure that things around the firehouse are repaired when needed, and addresses all Officers by their rank.  Chris is also a member of WALVAC.  We congratulate Chris on this high honor.

The 2012 Presidents Award was presented at the annual Installation Dinner held at the Brownstone.  This years award went to Thomas Gusta, the Department Secretary for the past 18 years.  We congratulate Tom on a job well done and for being presented with this fine award.

At the 2012 annual Installation Dinner of the Waldwick Fire Department, the following member anniversaries were announced by President Giordano.  We would like to congratulate these men.

Kevin Becker, Jason Fromm & Ryan Nielsen 5 years

Curt Linnartz 20 years

Dave Barthold, Roy Deboer & Dave Alvarez Sr 35 years

Mike Paras 40 years

And in November, Frank Jaegge 50 years!

On Saturday at approximately 13:55,  a report of a wall collapse with a smell of gas had the FD responding to the area of the Village School on West Prospect Street.  Chief Warr arrived on scene and found that the retaining wall for the parking along the HoHoKus Brook had failed and a large section of the parking lot had dropped about 10 feet.  In the same area was a gas line supplying the Board of Education maintenance garage which was leaking.  PSE&G was notified and FD crews on scene secured the area.

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On Wednesday at approximately 11:10, Waldwick FD and WALVAC were dispatched to a report of a man trapped under an automobile on Bergen Avenue.  Wyckoff FD Rescue 242 was also dispatched by Captain Miller as Waldwick's Rescue was out of service.  Units arrived on scene to find a man pinned under a car in his driveway.  The jack he had been using failed and the car dropped, but was still slightly supported by a wood beam which saved the individual from severe injury.  Wyckoff Chief Mike Rose and Rescue 242 arrived right behind the Waldwick responding apparatus as they had just returned themselves from a mutual aid response to the Borough of Oakland. Rescue 242's crew applied air bags to the underneath of the car raising it off the trapped individual.  The victim was then transported to the Valley Hospital by WALVAC.  We would like to thank Wyckoff FD for their assistance.

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Four alarms for Monday, a total of 7 alarms altogether for the week with six being CO alarms kept our volunteers quite busy. The first day had 4 CO alarms, the first at 00:09 from a home on Stuart St, at 02:07 from a home on Longview Drive, 03:29 from a home on Hickory Lane and finally at 17:42 from a home on Manhattan Ave. Thursday another CO alarm at 13:24 from a home on Waldwick Ave. Finally on Sunday a mutual aid request from the Allendale Fire Department for a fire in the walls caused by a fireplace on Powell Road at 15:08. Engine 631 responded and was in service for approximately 90 minutes. At 17:42 the last CO call for the week at 17:42 at a home on Crescent Avenue.
 
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A slow week for our volunteers only had two requests for assistance. The first on Wednesday at 20:15, a CO alarm from a home on Highwood Avenue. Crews checked the home and determined the cause to be a malfunctioning detector. The second call for the week came on Sunday at 18:50, an AFA from a home on Pennington Avenue proved to be a malfunctioning detector.
 
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The first week of 2012 saw 4 alarms for the WFD. The first came on Tuesday the 3rd, a MVC at Franklin Tpk and Grove Street involving two cars. Rescue 1 and Engine 2 responded, crews disconnected the batteries on both vehicles, secured the cars, and assisted the BLS units on scene as there was a total of three victims. WALVAC and the Allendale VAC also responded. Wednesday brought a mutual aid request from the Midland Park FD at 07:48 for one engine to respond to a car fire against a house on Spruce Street. Engine 2 arrived on scene behind the first MPFD engine and its crews went right to work. A great effort by all those involved save the house as the auto was fully involved upon arrival.
 
Thursday brought an AFA from the Little School on Hopper Ave which was set off by contractors working in the building. All units plus an Allendale engine responded at 16:33. Friday night the Department trained at the Bergen County Fire Academy on foam evolutions., the HoHoKus FD covered for Waldwick. Finally on Saturday a CO at 15:40 was received from a home on Waldwick Avenue.
 
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At a recent meeting of the Mayor and Council, Firefighter Crystal Paras was presented with her Exempt Certificate for completing seven years of active service with the WFD. On hand to present Crystal with her certificate were Frank Jaegge, President of the WFD Exempt Association, Chief Ken Warr, Sr., Ex-Chief Walt Riker and Mayor Giordano.

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This past weekend, all 3 department chiefs attended the Saddle River Fire Departments annual Awards and Installation Dinner held at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton. They were pleasantly surprised to witness 1 of their own firefighters, who also volunteers in Saddle River, honored for his service. Captain Kenneth Warr Jr was awarded as a Top Responder for the past calendar year but was also awarded the Distinguished Service Award for 2011. This is a great honor as it is awarded yearly to a member who holds true to the spirit of volunteerism and service to the community. Captain Warr serves from a long standing tradition of leaders in the fire service, as his father currently serves as Chief of Department and is the 6th generation to hold a line officer position in the fire service. Congratulations to Captain Warr. 630

At the January business meeting of the WFD, Christine Agugliaro was elected to the position of 2nd Lieutenant.  Chrissy joins her brother Andrew, who is the 2nd Assistant Chief,  as a line officer.  Christine comes from a firefighting family with long roots in the Waldwick FD.  Her dad and granddad both held the position of Chief.  She is the first female member of the Department to hold a line officer position.

At the  same meeting, Walt Riker was elected by the membership to the position of 1st Lieutenant, he had held the position of 2nd Lieutenant since the beginning of the year.

We wish both the fine individuals the best of luck in the coming year.

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One alarm for the week came on Monday at 00:37, a mutual aid request from Saddle River for the Rescue at a scene of an MVC on East Saddle River Road. The call was then canceled before our unit called in service. This was also our last call for the year, a very busy year that had an unprecedented amount of responses of 498 runs.
 
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Before a standing room only crowd of family, friends, residents and Borough volunteers and employees, Thomas Giordano took the oath of office for the Mayor of the Borough of Waldwick.  Tom who is a dedicated individual, held the office of Councilman for several years before being elected to Mayor.  Tom also serves as the Waldwick Fire Department President.  Many members were on hand to watch the historic event.  Tom's wife Marion and daughter Ali were on hand to witness his swearing in which was given by WFD member Sean Brennecke.  Tom's son TJ is presently serving in the Army.  The Waldwick Fire Department wishes Mayor Giordano and the 2012 Mayor and Council the Best of Luck for the coming year.