The annual election for Gloucester Township Fire District #2 will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 2 PM to 9 PM at the Chews Landing Fire Station, 43 Somerdale Road, Blackwood, New Jersey 08012. Voters will be asked to vote for one fire commissioner for a three year term. The candidates are Lawrence W. Grady and Nicholas J. Ritz. Voters will also be asked to vote YES on Question 1 to approve our proposed 2020 operating budget of $1,734,000.00, and to vote YES to Question 2 to approve a capital purchase for the shared purchase of a new fire engine at a cost not to exceed $710,000.00. The cost of the new engine will be shared equally with Gloucester Township Fire District #4. For further details regarding the purchase, please refer to the attached PowerPoint Presentation.

Public Apparatus Question

 

 

On Thursday Aug. 1, Task Force 82 was dispatched to 25 Lamp Post Ln. for a reported dwelling fire with reports of a trapped occupant.  8201 arrived on location with fire showing from the side and rear and struck the All Hands.  Engine 88 arrived first due and made access through the front to begin fighting the fire, as Squad 75 laid a supply line out to a hydrant to establish a water supply.  Tower Ladder 82 arrived, placed ground ladders around the home, and proceeded to the roof to open up and ventilate with assistance from firefighters from Magnolia and Hi-Nella.  The fire was quickly placed under control.  One occupant was removed by fire and police, and transported via helicopter to the hospital, with Squad 65 setting up the LZ.  One police officer was also transported to the hospital for treatment. EMS was kept busy providing rehab and evaluating all fire personnel in the days high temps. The fire is currently under investigation by local, county, and state officials.

In all, companies from Chews Landing, Blackwood, Glendora, Runnemede, Bellmawr, Hi-Nella, Magnolia, Lawnside, Somderdale, Oaklyn, Laurel Springs, Stratford, and Cherry Hill Rehab 13 operated on scene.  Companies from Deptford, Haddonfield, Somderdale, and Westmont responded and staged at Station 82 to provide coverage in the event of any additional calls for service.  A big thanks to all companies that responded!

         

          

          

          

          

           

Wednesday, June 26 saw Chews Landing Fire Dept. respond to numerous calls, including 4 Dwelling fires.  The first call of the day came in just after 02:30 for a reported Dwelling fire on Cedar Ave.  Engine 88 and Tower Ladder 82 found a malfunction with the homes boiler unit, secured power and fuel to the system, and verified there was no fire extension to any of the area surrounding the unit.

Engine 88 handled several other calls throughout the day, including a burning wires call and small brush fire, before the station was dispatched to the Black Horse Pike near Oak Ave. for another reported Dwelling fire.  Engine 88 arrived and found a small apartment above a business with smoke showing, and requested the All Hands.  The fire was quickly extinguished, and the station was soon back in service.

Shortly after 21:30, Rescue 82 and Engine 88 were dispatched for yet another Dwelling fire, this time in 86’s local (Erial).  First arriving units updated the report to show that it was actually a shed.  Rescue 82 returned to station while Engine 88 was rerouted to a minor call for service in Blackwood.

But within the hour, 8201 (Chief Millisky), Tower Ladder 82, and Engine 88 were responding to Pine Hill for a confirmed working apartment fire.  Both arrived as the Second Due Engine and Truck companies.  Engine 88 secured a water supply for Squad 62 before aiding in fire suppression, while the members of Tower Ladder 82 began checking adjacent apartments for any signs of the fire spreading to them.  Both units remained on scene until after midnight.

As always, thanks to Runnemede, Glendora, Blackwood, and Blenheim for the Mutual Aid assistance rendered.  Additional thanks to Nick Martin for providing additional photos.

The Chews Landing Fire Dept. Friday night Duty Crew started off the night by heading out around town with Tower Ladder 82 to do some pre-planning.  Pre-planning is where we review a location beforehand and note as much of its construction, layout, hydrant locations, special access that may be needed, specific hazards, and to look for anything else that could be pertinent information should an emergency ever arise there.  Just minutes after arriving at our first stop,  at 18:34 the crew was dispatched for a house fire in Lindenwold, with reports of possible occupant entrapment.  First arriving units reported heavy fire throughout a 2 story single family dwelling, and the 2nd Alarm was struck. All occupants were accounted for at that time.

Upon arrival, Tower Ladder 82 was tasked as the incident’s RIC (Rapid Intervention Crew), standing by and monitoring the situation, ready to provide immediate aid to any firefighters that may need rescue from within the structure.  We were joined soon after by Rescue 82, and a second RIC was established.  Once the fire was placed under control, one RIC was maintained and the other was assigned to the manpower pool.  Though the hot and muggy weather made for an extremely uncomfortable evening, both units cleared without incident, and returned to quarters after approximately 2 hours.

Once all of the trucks and equipment were fully restored, an attempt was made to finally have an evening meal.  However this was not to be, as Tower Ladder 82 was once again dispatched, this time to Pine Hill for a reported apartment fire.  Fortunately, the assignment was quickly recalled before the ladders arrival.  Now approaching 22:00, the crew of TL 82 could finally catch their breath and grab a meal.

Throughout the night while TL 82  and R82 were providing mutual aid, coverage for the residents of the Chews Landing section of town was maintained by additional Duty Crew members, as well as Engine 88, the joint District 2 and District 4 24/7 career staffed apparatus.