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.
 

In nearly 100 degree heat on the 5th of July,  Waldwick Fire Department units traveled to Ridgewood to participate in the 100th Anniversary of the 4th of July celebration in Ridgewood.  Engine 1, Rescue 1 Tower 1 and the Chief's Command vehicle all participated.  Due to the heat, the members opted to ride instead of marching.

The Tower took 2nd Place Best Appearing Ladder and The Rescue took 1st Place!

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The men and women of The Waldwick Fire Department would like to wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July.

Engine 632 responded to Route 17 in HoHoKus today for a fully involved garbage truck.  The intense fire required that the northbound lanes be completely shut for several hours.  Engine 2 dropped a 5 inch line to supply the two HoHoKus engines that were on scene.  NORCON was activated by Command 7 resulting in a standby from Midland Park, Ridgewood and Washington Twp.  Allendale Rescue responded to the scene for their cascade system. 

The driver of the truck received second degree burns and was transported to The Valley Hospital.  Good job to the HoHoKus FD!

Pictures courtesy of Waldwick/HoHoKus firefighter Jeff Pattman and Northjersey News

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Please take a moment to remember the 5 Brave Men from the Hackensack, NJ Fire Department who made the Ultimate Sacrifice on July 1,1988 at Alarm#1177. 1
 
Captain Richard Williams, Lieutenant Richard Reinhagen, and Firemen William Kresja, Leonard Radumski, and Steven Ennis. 
 

At 08:01 on Monday the 21st, the FD responded to a CO alarm at a residence on Manhattan Avenue. Rescue 1 & Engine 2 responded. Crews checked the home and notified PSE&G. On Tuesday at 08:18, an AFA from a commercial building on Hewson Avenue was received. All units responded and checked the structure. Workmen were found to have set off the alarm accidentally. Thursday a CO alarm was received from a residence on MacBeth Court. Rescue 1 & Engine 2 responded. Crews checked out the home and notified PSE&G. 

 
Friday at 13:34 an AFA was received from the Learning Experience on Hewson Avenue, as per protocol, an engine was requested from the Allendale FD due to this being a high occupancy structure. Engines 1 & 2, Tower 1 and Rescue 1, as well as Allendale engine 935 all responded. The building had been evacuated on arrival, crews entered and checked the structure with the Thermal Imagining Camera (TIC) and found no reason for the activation. On Saturday Rescue 1 & Engine 2 traveled to the Borough of Oakland to assist with a fireworks standby (see story below)
 
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Engine 2 & Rescue 1 traveled to Oakland to help cover the fireworks show in conjunction with the Borough's annual carnival.  Engine 2 took up a position to watch for fallout while Rescue 1, along with Midland Park Engine 531 and Wyckoff Tower 241, stood by at the carnival grounds and covered the Borough of Oakland in the event of a need for the fire department.  The crew of Engine 2 chased a few hot embers while Rescue 1's crew enjoyed the show.

The weeks first call came on Thursday, an AFA at a residence on Bergen Avenue at 14:39. Engines 1 & 2, Rescue 1 and Tower 1 all responded. First arriving units found the alarm had been set off by cooking. Command then reduced the assignment to a single engine and returned the other units. Later at 20:01 a reported gas leak from a home on Nordham Street was received. FD units were on a detail at Waldwick High School preparing for the Graduation Ball. Engines 1 & 2, Rescue 1 and Tower 1 all responded from the detail. A search of the home was unable to find any leak and PSE&G was notified.
 
FD units returned to the High School to finish the detail. Fire hose is laid in the school in event of a fire during the Grad Ball. With the hose in place, valuable time would be saved in stretching lines. Two firefighters are also on patrol during the event, as well as members standing by at Fire Station 2 till the Ball is over at 2am.
 
On Sunday at 19:56, a CO alarm was received from a home on MacGregor Court. A graduation party was taking place and occupants of the home stated that the alarm was sounding all day. The homeowner eventually called and Engine 2 and Rescue 1 responded. Members checked the interior of the home and found low levels of CO. The WFD reminds all residents that when their CO alarms sound, call the Fire Department. CO is an odorless gas which can only be detected with an properly working CO detector.
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From The Desk of The President Tom Giordano,

On behalf of our Chief Walt Riker and the entire Waldwick Volunteer
Fire Department Family, I would like to congratulate our firefighters Jeffrey
O'Connell and Kyle Joaquin, as well as our extended family graduates Tara
Smith, Mikey Freeman, Sara Schatz, Kelly Fearon, Daniel Milano and Christian Wilding-Jimenez on their graduation from Waldwick High School.

May this next chapter in your lives be filled with success and happiness. May you always strive to do and be the best you can be. Never settle continue to move on no matter what is ahead of you that can be a problem. Face all your challenges head on and you will succede.

As Vince Lombardi once said " The price of success is hard work,
dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” Good Luck
to all of you, have a great summer and Job Well Done
 

Thanks to the generosity of a local builder, a house on Bergen Avenue  slated for demolition was given the WFD for training purposes.  Members utilized Ladder 1's tools to practice their skills on ventilating the roof area.