At 03:08, the Waldwick Fire Department FAST Team was requested to respond to Lakeshore Drive in Oakland, Rescue 1 responded.  Upon arrival the crew from Rescue 1 staged on the front lawn.  The bulk of the fire had been knocked down, but due to the extent of the fire damage, an extensive overhaul operation was in progress.  With there always being the danger of structural collapse, Rescue 1's crew stood ready.  Other FD units on scene were Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Midland Park, Mahwah and Fair Lawn.  A terrific job by The Oakland FD on this tough fire.

Additional pictures courtesy of Wyckoff FD

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A busy week for our volunteers started early on Monday at 06:08 with primary wires on fire in front of the 7th Day Adventist School on Wyckoff Avenue.  All units responded as the WPD requested that the roadway needed to be shut down.  PSE&G was notified and eventually the fire self extinguished.  A CO alarm followed at 21:00 from a residence in Tamaron.  Engine 4 & Rescue 1 responded.  Crews checked the structure and found a malfunctioning oven unit.  PSE&G was notified.  Tuesday brought another call for wires on fire on Lotus Lane at 22:14.  All units responded, first arriving Chief Ken Warr, Sr. found that the fire had self extinguished and downsized the call returning all units except Engine 4.  A request for a Fire Officer to respond to Co #1 at 06:07 for water leaking through the ceiling.

 

Thursday brought a mutual aid response to Midland Park for a Two Out Engine at 12:50.  MPFD was on scene with smoke in the basement of a commercial occupancy on Godwin Avenue.  Engine 4 & Chief Riker responded.  Finally on Saturday at 13:05, a mutual aid request was received from the Ramsey Fire Department for the Tower Ladder to respond and standby at their Fire HQ.  The RFD was on scene of a structure fire on South Central Avenue.

 

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The week started early on Monday at 02:20 with a CO alarm at a residence on Wyckoff Avenue. Crews checked the home and determined that the detector was malfunctioning. As procedure, PSE&G was also notified. At 11:45 an AFA was received from a home on Summit Avenue. Crews checked the interior and found a vacuum cleaner was smoking. The unit was removed from the home. Wednesday at 12:03 brought another AFA fro a commercial occupancy on Franklin Turnpike. Units responded and checked the structure and found no sign of fire. A grill fire was reported at 17:28 on the rear deck of a home on Ackerman Street. Arriving units found the fire out on arrival.
 
Thursday the Department drilled at the pool parking lot on water flow operations. The opportunity was given to two new pump operators in training to try their skills. 
 
Friday morning at 08:59 brought an AFA from the Village School. Units responded and found the alarm system was set off during cleaning operations. Early Saturday the WFD responded twice to the Village School at 00:16 & 02:32 for alarm malfunctions.
 
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This past week Chief Walt Riker placed into service a new Command Vehicle.  The 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe was purchased by the Boro about a month ago and has been in the process of having the radios, emergency lights and markings installed.  The vehicle will be used by the Chief to respond to all calls that the WFD is dispatched to.  It has radios that enable him to communicate with the Waldwick PD & Ambulance Corps, as well as our neighboring fire departments.  This vehicle replaces the old 2002 Chevrolet Pickup Truck, which will find a new home serving the DPW.

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A busy week for our volunteers. A mulch fire in the parking lot of The Village School was reported to the Fire Official at 18:09 while performing a fire inspection of the Lion’s Club carnival.  Engine 634 responded and extinguished the blaze.   Wednesday had the WFD responding to a CO alarm on Manhattan Avenue.  Engine 4 & Rescue 1 responded. Crews determined that the detector was malfunctioning.  As a promotional night for the carnival, a fireworks display was presented on Wednesday evening.  FD units with the assistance of Wyckoff, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Midland Park & Allendale FD’s provided a required safety coverage.  Several homes on Oak Place had to be checked as hot embers were seen landing on their roofs.  Several units responded and found no fire damage on any of the structures.  We thank our neighboring Departments for assisting us.
  
Thursday a gas leak at 11:15  was reported at the snack stand of the Borough Pool on Hopper Avenue.  Units responded and PSE&G was notified. At 13:27 an AFA was received from the 7th Day Adventist School on Wyckoff Avenue.  Units responded and checked the building. Thursday also saw the Delegates and Life Members to the NJ State Firemen’s Convention attended the Caucus held at Paramus Catholic High School.
 
Finally on Saturday at 16:41, a vehicle was leaking fuel on Lylian Street.  Units responded and secured the leak.
 
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The first call of the week came late on Monday evening.  At 23:35 a CO alarm was received from a home on Grand Avenue.  Rescue 1 and Engine 2 responded.  Crews checked the home and determined that the detector was malfunctioning.  On Tuesday at 08:38 a mutual aid request for the FAST Team was received from the Oakland FD (see story below).  At 20:10 a transformer fire was reported on Hemlock Street.  Engines 1 & 2 responded and stood by till PSE&G arrived.  Saturday at 18:09 a mulch fire was reported at a home on East Prospect Street.  Units responded and extinguished the fire.

 

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At 08:38, Rescue 1 and the FAST Team were dispatched to Oakland for a working house fire on West Oakland Avenue.  Oakland FD were on scene with a fire in the attic of a residential home.  NORCON was activated and the 2nd alarm assignment was sent which included a Tower Ladder from Wyckoff, and Engines from Franklin Lakes and Midland Park, along with Rescue 1.  Rescue 1 arrived on scene and set up its team in the front of the structure.

A FAST Team (Firefighter Assistance and Search Team) is responsible to rescue any trapped or injured firefighters.  Fortunately Rescue 1 had no firefighters to take care of.

The call would eventually go to a 3rd alarm as all hands were working and crews were rotating due to the heat.  A fantastic job to Chief Robert Knapp and the Oakland Fire Department on a tough fire.

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Pictures courtesy of Oakland FD

Another slow week for our volunteers.  Monday required a special detail that was called by Chief Riker.  Engine 632 needed to have its equipment and hose removed for some repair work. On Sunday at 00:08 an AFA was received from a group home on Franklin Turnpike.  Units responded and checked the structure and found no cause for the alarm.

 
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Ever wonder what happens to old fire apparatus?  Well retired engine 632, a 1969 American La France Pioneer 1250 GPM pumper was purchased by a local business owner, Chuck Wanamaker, Sr. of Waldwick Auto.  He brought the engine to a camp ground he also owns, Belvedere Lake Resort, in Roseboom, New York.  Here the Pioneer protects the camp grounds from fire, and also sometimes gives rides to children. 

Anyone who remembers this truck will also remember the very distinct, loud sound it made.  This engine retired from service in 1994 after protecting the Borough of Waldwick for 25 years.  It was the first apparatus in the WFD with an automatic transmission.

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Thanks to Christina & Sean for the pics! 

After coming off a very busy week, the WFD only logged in two calls for assistance this week. On Friday an AFA was received at 13:26, from a nursery school on Crescent Avenue. Units responded to find that the system was activated by employees cleaning. On Saturday at 23:46, a request for manpower to assisted WALVAC at a home on Leonard Drive was received.
 
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On July 16th, after 25 years of faithful and dedicated service, Detective Sargent Kevin Smith walked out of Police Headquarters for the last time.  His fellow Officer's presented Kevin with a honor guard during a very, very hot day.  The Men and Women of the Waldwick Fire Department salute Kevin for his hard work over the years to the citizens of Waldwick. 

Many of Kevin's family members and friends, along with Borough employees, were present to see Kevin off. Chief Messner presented Kevin with his retirement badge.   We understand that we will still see Kevin from time to time as he will be tending to the Borough's computer system.  Good Luck Kevin in your retirement!!

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The WFD had a very bust week responding to 14 calls for assistance. Monday at 14:01 units responded to a rubbish fire in the area of West Prospect Street and Walter Hammond Place. Tuesday brought seven alarms. A CO alarm at 00:17 on Highwood, wires down on Wyckoff Avenue in the area of the High School at 13:30, an AFA reported from a residence on Sheridan that units could not locate, an alarm malfunction at a home on Grove Street, an alarm malfunction from a home on Manhattan which was believed to be the correct address from the earlier Sheridan Avenue call, and finally an alarm malfunction from a commercial property on East Prospect Street at 17:02.
 
Wednesday brought an oven fire in a home on Charles Terrace, all units responded to find the fire was extinguished by the homeowner. At 19:46 a CO alarm was received from a unit in Tamaron. Rescue 1 and Engine 2 responded to find a malfunctioning oven, PSE&G was notified. At 23:47 an AFA was received from a commercial occupancy on Wyckoff Avenue which was found to be a malfunction.
 
On Saturday a mutual aid request was received from the Midland Park FD for an engine to respond to a dryer fire on Pine Street, Engine 631 responded. Sunday brought 2 more calls, a smell of gas was reported at a home on Dow Avenue that recently was involved with a fire. Engine 2 and Rescue 1 responded and found no gas leak, since all utilities had been shut off right after the fire. PSE&G responded and also checked the interior of the structure and found no evidence of gas. Finally at 18:24 an AFA was received from a group home located on Franklin Turnpike. Engines 1 & 2 responded to find a pull station had accidentally been tripped.
 
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The week started with the FD participating in the Ridgewood 4th of July parade (see story below).  At 15:35 an AFA was received from a home on Cypress Court.  Engines 1 & 2, Rescue 1 all responded. Crews checked the interior of the home and found a malfunctioning smoke detector.  At 19:25 a CO alarm was received from another residence on Cypress Court. Engine 2 & Rescue 1 responded and checked the home.
 
On Friday at 20:28, a smell of something burning from within a home on Howard Place was received.  All units responded and the home was checked. Saturday brought a call to a home on Evergreen Street for the smell of something burning in the bathroom.  All units responded and checked the home. Rescue 1 went to Tuxedo, NY to provide coverage while the Tuxedo FD conducted a funeral service for an Ex-Chief.
 
At 13:25 an structure fire on Dow Avenue was reported, this eventually went to a 2nd alarm (see story below).
 
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At 13:25 WFD was dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a home on Dow Avenue.  Arriving units found a working fire.  The first due engine laid a supply line from a hydrant and stretched two 1 3/4 handlines.  Crews entered the structure and found a fire on the first floor of the home.  A 2nd alarm was struck bringing units from Wyckoff, HoHoKus, Allendale, Midland Park and Franklin Lakes.  The fire was knocked down quickly and overhaul began.  Searches of the house found that no one was home at the time of the fire.

We thank all the mutual aid units who responded on this hot summer day.

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The week required the FD to respond twice. On Wednesday at 18:07 a report of smoke in the area of Franklin Turnpike and Bergen Avenue had all units responding. Chief Riker arrived on scene and determined that the smoke was from some open burning in a rear yard. Thursday night the Department met for its monthly business meeting. On Friday at 09:05, a mutual aid request from the Ho-Ho-Kus FD had Engine 2 responding (see story below). Sunday Engine 1 & Rescue 1 traveled to Allendale o assist in covering for the fireworks.