Just shortly after 17:00 hours, Tower 2 and Car 510 were dispatched to 149 Manhattan Terrace in Dumont, for the RIT assignment for the house on fire. Dumont FD had a 1 1/2 story single family dwelling with fire showing from a bedroom window on arrival. As the Tower arrived, the DFD had most of the fire knocked down. The Tower remained on scene for a short while until being released, where they then took in another run back in Tenafly.

During the week of October 20-26, 2008 the Tenafly Fire Department responded to 30 calls for assistance.  Monday October 20 the department responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Route 9W north of East Clinton Ave. A driver traveling south in a passenger vehicle collided head-on with a tractor-trailer heading north. The driver of the car was killed and was heavily pinned in the wreckage. The tractor-trailer was leaking diesel fuel. Following the extensive investigation and documentation of the accident scene by police agencies, the fire department was ordered to cut the victim from the heavily entrapped wreckage. The Bergen County Hazardous Materials Team responded to the scene to mitigate the leaking diesel fuel. Fire units were on the scene for five hours. The use of our elevating light tower on one of the apparatus was useful to investigators to illuminate the area as they examined the crash scene. These light towers of which we have four were added over the last few years after we had five people killed on 9W in a two car accident about eight or nine years ago.  Tuesday October 21, we had one fire alarm and a mutual aid drill for surrounding departments of which over 120 firefighters attended a two hour lecture on the hazards of lightweight building construction to the fire service.  Wednesday October 22, we responded to one call for an activated Carbon Monoxide detector.  Thursday October 23, the department responded to four fire alarms.  Friday October 24, the department responded to three fire alarms and a reported oven fire.  Saturday October 25, a series of storms with high winds hit the town during the late afternoon and mid-evening causing blackouts, trees down and electrical wires down. The department responded to five fire alarms, two transformers on fire, three reports of electrical wires down, three electrical wires burning on the ground. PSE & G were notified to respond to numerous locations.  Sunday October 26, the department responded to two fire alarms and an activated Carbon Monoxide detector.  It was a busy week!  - From the desk of Assistant Chief, Harvey Eisner.

Tenafly Fire has just taken delivery of a 2008 GMC Yukon, custom equipped by Odyssey Automotive Specialty of Wharton, NJ. This new command car replaces a 1999 Chevy Suburban which was also an Odyssey special. Car 511 is assigned to assistant chief Harvey Eisner. The old car 511 will be labeled Car 512 and used  as a duty officers vehicle.

Just after 10:00 hours, TFD Tower 2 and Car 511 were dispatched to 135 Depew Street in Dumont, for the RIT assignment at a working house fire. As the Tower arrived on scene, Dumont fire companies had a second floor bedroom fire knocked and were in the process of ventilation. The Tower remained on scene for a short while before being released. The Tower was back in service by 10:20 hours.

The Tenafly Fire Department spent this past Sunday holding its annual open house which kicks off fire prevention week. Members held a memorial service prior to the start of the open house and then prepared for the afternoon’s open house activities. Many folks from the community attended where they learned fire awareness lessons like when/how to use “911”, crawling through a smoke filled room and watching videos on how fast fire spreads. Like in the past, rides on the apparatus had the largest lines of all the stations. Another successful year was had based on the great turnout and the support from the community.  Special thanks to Briana Johnston and the TFD for the pictures.

The Tenafly Fire Department participated in this year’s Northern Valley Fire Chiefs Parade which was held in Haworth NJ.  Engine 1 took the trophy for best firematic engine. Good job to all that participated.  Thanks to http://brettsfirephotos.smugmug.com/ and the TFD for the photo's.

At 07:30 hours, Tower 2 and Car 510 were dispatched to 151 East Palisades Avenue, in Englewood for a garage fire at an apartment complex. Tenafly Tower 2 arrived on scene and setup the RIT next to the command post in case they were needed.   Englewood companies made quick work of the fire which originated from a car in the garage. The Tower and Car 510 were released at 08:20 hours. 

At 17:45 hours, The TFD was dispatched to Grove Street for a tractor trailer that fell into a sink hole. TFD Squad 2, Car 510 and the Tenafly DPW responded to find a trailer which had sunken into the pavement during a delivery at the Stop & Shop Supermarket. The TFD was able to stabilize the trailer from sinking further with the use of cribbing and jacks while the DPW used a front end loader to lift the trailer back onto the tractor. The TFD was released at 18:17 hours.

At 05:55 hours, TFD Squad 2 and Car 510 were alerted to respond to Leonia for coverage, while the Leonia FD was on scene of a fatal house fire. Squad 2 stood by in Leonia Fire Headquarters with Edgewater Truck 2 and Englewood Cliffs Tower. The Squad took in a power line on fire call before being released at 10:10 hours.

At 23:24 hours, Tower 2 and Car 510 were dispatched on the 3rd alarm to 576 Hazlitt Avenue in Fort Lee. Fort Lee was heavily engaged at a 3 story, mixed use, commercial structure with heavy fire on all floors. The Tower responded as the RIT and set up in front of the fire building to await orders. Shortly after, Tenafly Engine 1 was dispatched on the 4th alarm to cover Fort Lee Company 3. Engine 1 made it to Fort Lee Company 3, was then re-directed to Fort Lee Company 1 and then redirected to Englewood Cliffs Fire Headquarters where they stood by until 01:20 hours. The Tower was released from the multiple at 01:35 hours.  Thanks to http://www.brettsfirephotos.smugmug.com/ for the photos.

At 15:20 hours, the whistle’s sounded for a car fire in the Valley Bank parking lot at 85 County Rd. First on scene; Car 511 found a Lincoln Navigator fully involved. Squad 2 arrived soon after, pulled an attack line and went to work extinguishing the fire. Engine 1 assisted in filling Squad 2’s tank while Rescue 1 helped in opening up the SUV. The TFD operated until 16:05 hours.   If you look closely, only a few shreds remain of the fiberglass hood. Thanks to Frank Kraus for the pictures.

At 19:00 hours, two calls were dispatched for the TFD; one for the special operations team to respond to 1320 Hastings Street in Teaneck for the house explosion and another for smoke coming from a house in Tenafly. The TFD sent Engine 1, Ladder 1 and Car 510 to the smoke coming from a house call and sent the special operations team (part of the Bergen Regional Special Operations Team) to Teaneck.   The smoke coming from a house call turned out to be tar burning around a flue pipe and was quickly remedied. The special operations team methodically searched what was left of the house, looking for victims using various tools and man power to move sections of the exploded house.  TFD special ops remained on scene until 22:28.  Thanks to http://www.brettsfirephotos.smugmug.com/ for the photos.

Tenafly Tower 2 and Car 510 responded as the RIT for two fires in Dumont today. The first fire at 08:23 hours, located at 60 Columbia Avenue was an apartment fire with fire showing out a window on arrival. Dumont companies made a quick knock of the kitchen fire as Tower 2 held the RIT position near the command post. Tower 2 was back in service at 09:20 hours.   The second RIT assignment came at 10:34 hours and sent the Tower and Car 510 to 35 Oneida Avenue in Dumont where the DFD was on scene with an attic fire. Dumont companies made quick work of the fire and released the Tower at 11:10 hours.  Thanks to www.brettsfirephotos.smugmug.com for the pictures.

At 09:14 hours, Squad 2, Engine 1 and Car 511 responded to a 2 car MVC located at 128 Columbus Drive. On arrival, the Squad found one car on the front lawn with a person trapped inside the vehicle. The Squad broke out the spreaders and freed the victim within minutes. Engine 1 stabilized the vehicle, had the precautionary line, contained fluids and secured the car. Companies were back in service at 10:05 hours.

Tenafly Tower 2 and Car 510 spent Sunday morning in Cresskill, at a drill involving a multi occupancy senior housing center. Tower 2 simulated different bucket positions on the roof and balcony’s of the building. Fire departments involved in the operations were Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Haworth and Tenafly. Photos courtesy of Brett Dzadik (http://www.brettsfirephotos.smugmug.com/)