Allendale Fire responded to a residence on Brookside Ave for a working basement fire on Thursday May 7. 29 firefighters staffing all Allendale fire apparatus responded to the blaze. Mutual aid support was provided by Waldwick, Wyckoff, Mahwah, Ramsey,  Saddle River, and Hohokus. First in companies achieved a quick knock on the fire preventing fire spread to the upper floors. Fire crews spent the better part of 3 hours on scene sifting through the basement checking for hotspots, extension, salvaging property and assisting the homeowner with securing personal belongings. Another good job by the men and women of Allendale Fire. Thank you to all the mutual aid companies for the assist.

Engine 932 was requested by NORCON to respond to Waldwick Co. 1 for a cover assignment this date due to a working residential house fire. Waldwick Command then requested that 932 be diverted to the scene to assist the Waldwick crews. Chief Walters (930) also responded.  Allendale units were released approximately a half hour later.

Allendale Fire was requested by Ramsey Fire Department at about 5:50am this morning to 63 DeBaun Ave for a working house fire. Ramsey units rolled up on a fully involved 2 story wood frame residence with the family safely evacuated to the street. Engine co. 935 responded and provided a water supply from a hydrant at Franklin Turnpike and Airmount Ave, laying about 1800' of 5 inch supply hose. Waldwick's Ladder 641, Ramsey's Ladder 442 and Mahwah's Ladder 2 all set up ladder pipe operations to douse the inferno. Several handlines were also put into operation. Saddle River FD was dispatched as a 2nd FAST assignment. USR FD, Wyckoff FD and Franklin Lakes FD all provided assistance as well.

 While Allendale crews were standing by on scene with their mutual aid comrades, Wyckoff FD was dispatched to a confirmed working house fire in their township. Engine 935 was released by Ramsey Fire Command as they were requested by NORCON to assist Wyckoff with this job. They were directed to standby at Company 1 in Wyckoff for the duration of this fire. They were released and returned to AFD Fire HQ by 1:15pm.

Engine 932 was dispatched to Ramsey today for a working condo fire on Alexandria Ct in the Cambridge Heights condo complex. OIC Capt R. Shute, FF's Dan Richards, Brendan Sterbinsky and Bryan McDowell assisted Ramsey crews with extinguishment, searches and overhaul. 932 provided Wyckoff's tower ladder with water.

Saving burning structures in our mutual aid has become a habit for Allendale Fire, and today was no exception. Yet another awesome job by the Allendale boys. Their quick response enabled them to be the first mutual aid unit on scene, providing much needed help as Ramsey was short staffed in the initial stages.  The quick and heroic actions of Capt Shute and his crew prevented the fire from spreading to the Bravo and Delta exposures. Extinguishment, primary searches in the original fire building and exposures, as well as lengthy overhaul in all affected areas were performed with professionalism and expertise. All in a day's work for these fine young men. Allendale Fire is proud of the accomplishments of this group.     NICE JOB MEN!

Allendale Fire was dispatched today to a residence on MacIntyre Lane for a carbon monoxide alarm activation. Chief D. Walters (930), Engine 935 (OIC R. Shute), Ladder 941 (OIC FF Varsolona) and Rescue 942 (OIC FF Kobovich) all responded to the assignment.

935's crew began taking readings with their gas detector and discovered readings of 40 ppm in the basement, indicating the presence of carbon monoxide. PSE&G was requested and responded. Working together the crews found a blockage of bricks in the chimney. 941's crew was ordered to ladder the structure to investigate and found that the chimney had partially collapsed, creating a blockage. Both crews worked to remove the blockages while 942's crew set up fans to vent the structure.

Upon completion of the vent, crews re-entered with their detectors and reported the structure to be clear of the gas. The scene was then turned over to the PSE&G representative. All AFD units returned to service and were released by 930.

On Friday afternoon Allendale Police Communications dispatched Department 9 on a general alarm to 90 Boroline Road in the Industrial Park for a fire alarm activation. First arriving police officers reported a light smoke condition. Chief Walters (930) arrived on scene, established command and requested an engine company from Saddle River (1132) and Waldwick's Rescue. Allendale Engine 932 (OIC Capt. R. Shute) and Ladder 941(OIC Capt J. Shute) responded in on the assigment.

Crews from 932, 941 and the Rescue coordinated a thorough search of the building, which was occupied at the time, but came up empty as to its origin. Fire Official Pierre Gauthier arrived to assist and along with Ladder Capt. Shute interrogated the few office workers who had safely evacuated. The source was determined to be a cardboard pizza box left in an oven which had caught fire, extinguished and removed from the premises prior to FD arrival. Chief Walters returned all units shortly thereafter.

Allendale Fire was dispatched to a reported chimney fire at a residence on West Crescent Avenue on this date. Chiefs 930 and 940, as well as Engine 932 and Ladder 941 all responded to the assignment.  Waldwick Rescue was requested to assist.

Crews from 932 checked the interior of the house with their thermal imaging camera in the area of the fireplace and chimney and determined there was no extension. The engine crew also removed the fire from the fireplace to the exterior. Crews from 941 checked the roof and chimney areas which yielded favorable results as well.

All units returned to service shortly thereafter.

Engine 932 (OIC Capt. R. Shute) was requested by Wyckoff to cover Company One at Scott Plaza while Wyckoff units were working a car into a pond incident in their township. No runs were logged during their assignment and they were returned a few hours later.

Firefighter Alex Carter has decided to take a break in his firefighting duties to answer the call of a higher authority. FF Carter left for the United States Marines on Tuesday January 20th and will be stationed at Parris Island in South Carolina. Anyone wishing to correspond with Alex his address is as follows:

Attn. Senior Drill Instructor SSgt Saint- Leger, USMC
RCT Carter, Alexander, P
PLT 1028 CO DELTA, 1st RTBN
Box 11028
Parris Island
SC 29905 1028

The men and women of the Allendale Fire Department are all very proud of Alex and are certain he will do as outstanding job as he did in his firefighting. We wish Alex the best of luck and eagerly anticipate his return.

On New Year's Eve Allendale Police Communications dispatched Allendale Fire to the Nursing Home on Harreton Ave for a reported water emergency. Engine 932, Truck 941 and Rescue 942 all responded.

While crews worked to mitigate the water flow, Police Communications received a call for an activated fire alarm at the Talk of the Town video store on Franklin Turnpike. Chief 930 transferred command to 2nd Lieutenant (962) Ryan Shute and responded to Talk of the Town. Chief ordered Rescue 942 to respond as well, and requested an engine from Waldwick to assist.

Crews from 942 and Engine 631 searched the building inside and out with negative results. It was determined the sprinkler system was compromised and the findings were reported to the keyholder. 631 and 942 returned to service and back to quarters while 930 responded back to the Nursing Home to assist 962. The incident was brought under control shortly thereafter and all units were placed back in service and returned to quarters.

Thanks to Waldwick for their assistance once again.