Teaneck Fire Department

Teaneck Fire Department
Operational area
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
Agency overview
Established 1915
Annual calls 3,127 (2017)
Employees 94 (2018)
Annual budget ≈ $10,623,584 (2018)
Staffing Career
Fire chief Jordan Zaretsky
EMS level BLS
Facilities and equipment
Battalions 1
Stations 4
Engines 4
Trucks 1
Rescues 1
Rescue boats 2
Website
Official website
Headquarters on Teaneck Road
Station 2 on Cedar Lane
Station 3 on Teaneck Road

The Teaneck Fire Department (TFD) provides fire protection, rescue and first responder emergency medical services to the Township of Teaneck, New Jersey.

History

The first known organized fire protection in Teaneck was provided by the Hackensack Township Protection Society, a part-paid, part-volunteer police organization which also provided organization and equipment for citizens to use in their own rudimentary fire defense. They responded to what is now Teaneck, but with astronomical response times due to poor roads and steep hills. The Englewood Fire Department also responded to nineteenth century fires in Teaneck, with similar response time problems.

The first organized fire company in Teaneck was Defender Hook and Ladder Co. quartered at about 722 New Bridge Road, providing first due fire protection in New Bridge, lower New Milford and the Cherry Hill section of River Edge. This company was formed on August 12, 1895. This company did not join the other four Teaneck Fire companies when the career municipal fire department was organized in 1915. Instead, it helped supply the nucleus for New Milford Fire Company 2, although it continued to respond in Teaneck until 1933.[1] Below a history of the paid Fire Chiefs of the Teaneck Fire Department.

Teaneck's Fire Chiefs[2]
Kenloch V. Ridley 1915 - 1934 Carl O. Anderson 1972 - 1986 John Bauer 2005 - 2006
Francis X. Murray 1934 - 1956 Donald Wynne 1986 - 1989 Robert J. Montgomery 2006 - 2010
William Lindsay 1956 - 1966 William Hillermeier 1989 - 1994 Anthony Verley 2010 - 2018
Joseph R. Murray 1966 - 1972 William Norton 1994 - 2005 Jordan Zaretsky 2018–Present

Organization

Teaneck Fire Department is a fully career fire department that has 92 uniformed members, out of a total of 94 authorized uniformed positions, including 31 officers and 61 firefighters.[3] 81 members are assigned to 4 platoons (shifts) and 9 members are in the administrative, fire prevention and training bureaus. Each platoon has 20 - 21 members assigned to it and staff the townships four fire stations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.[4] TFD is part of the Mid-Bergen Mutual Aid Association (Teaneck, Hackensack, Englewood, Bergenfield, Bogota, and Ridgefield Park) and also serves as the Mutual Aid Dispatch Center.

The Teaneck Fire Department also includes The Box 54 Club Canteen/Rehab Unit which is staffed by volunteers. Similar to the Bell & Siren Club of Newark and the Gong Club of Jersey City, Box 54 provides canteen, communication and other support services at fire scenes, offering beverages and snacks where firefighters have an extended presence. The unit was created in 1952 and mostly responds to fires, hazmat situations, police actions, parades, and funerals. Although the majority of their services are in Northeastern New Jersey, their response area is not limited to Bergen County, they will respond wherever they are needed.[5]

Fire Suppression and Rescue Operations

The Fire Suppression and Rescue Operations are commanded by the on duty tour commander which is usually a Battalion Chief (radio call sign: Car 32). The tour commander is in charge of the platoon on duty. Each platoon consists of: 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Captain, 4 Lieutenants and 12-15 Firefighters. The tour commander reports to the Chief of the Department.

Fire Prevention Bureau

The Fire Prevention Bureau is the enforcement agency for the Township's Fire Code, which is aimed at controlling fire hazards in all structures in the community. The Fire Code mandates periodic inspections, which includes inspections of schools, local businesses, factories, hospitals, nursing homes, all commercial businesses, industrial and office buildings in the community. All new construction, including renovations and additions, are inspected by a fire official before a certificate of occupancy is issued. The bureau consists of 3 Lieutenants and is assisted by the on duty platoon which performs some inspections.[6] These allow each shift to familiarize themselves with the various occupancies, types of buildings and uncommon building layouts within the township.

Fire Investigation Unit

Under the direction of the Chief of Department and the Fire Official the unit conducts investigations of all fires for origin and cause. In cases of arson, the unit coordinates with the Teaneck Police Department, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, the Bergen County Arson Squad and other State and Federal agencies.[7] The Unit is on call and consists of: 1 Battalion Chief, 2 Lieutenants, and 5 Firefighters.

Fire Alarm Bureau

The Township has 315 fire alarm boxes strategically located throughout the Township. The fire alarm boxes are used to report fires, pre fire smoke conditions and a variety of other incidents including medical emergencies, electrical accidents, steam leaks, etc. The majority of boxes are dual use, relaying alarms from protected premises such as schools, places of public assembly, high rises, etc., as well as being available to bystanders to manually report fires and emergencies.[8]

Communications

The Teaneck Fire Department is dispatched out of Fire Headquarters at 1231 Teaneck Road. The Fire Department has two frequencies: the dispatch or "main" channel and a fireground channel.

Operations

The Teaneck Fire Department is one of only 4 career departments in Bergen County (Teaneck, Englewood, Hackensack and Ridgewood) and as of 2016, the department protects a populous of approximately 41,010 in 6.006 square miles of land. Furthermore, when requested they regularly respond on mutual aid to: Hackensack, Englewood, Bergenfield, Bogota, Ridgefield Park & New Milford. The department responds to approximately 3,000 to 4,000 fire calls per year involving: structure fires, vehicle fires, electrical emergencies, natural gas releases, carbon monoxide incidents, explosions, rescues, outside fires, vehicle extrication's, and waterborne rescue.

The Teaneck Fire Department operates out of 4 firehouses: 4 engines, 1 ladder truck, & 1 rescue truck, 2 spare engines, 1 spare ladder, & 1 spare rescue along with various other special and support units. A Battalion Chief is the daily tour commander and is in charge of all 4 stations.

The department has an authorized strength of 94 members: 1 Chief, 2 Deputy Chiefs, 4 Battalion Chiefs, 4 Captains, 1 Training/Safety Officer, 16 Lieutenants, 3 Fire Prevention Officers, 61 Firefighters & 2 Clerks.

The primary goal of the Teaneck Fire Department is to prevent fires from occurring. When a fire does occur the goal is to immediately protect life and property by promptly confining, controlling and extinguishing the fire while rescuing any trapped occupant. It should be noted that the average response time of the Teaneck Fire Department is three minutes from time of notification to arrival on the scene (below the recommended four minute response time).

Auto extrication occurs quite often in Teaneck due to the major highways that are within the town's jurisdiction and main thoroughfares that pass through the town. The fire department responds to serious motor vehicle accidents, along with the Teaneck Police Department and the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps on Route 4, Route 80, and Route 95 and on local streets. Furthermore, Teaneck Fire Department responds to water rescues on the Hackensack River, Overpeck Creek and to flooding conditions in Teaneck and neighboring towns upon request.[9]

Response assignments

The Teaneck Fire Department uses signal tones to initially indicate the assignment & severity of the response. Immediately subsequent to the tones, the dispatcher provides the necessary information to the units assigned to the response.

Signal Examples of Incident(s) Unit(s) Assigned
3 Wires Down, Medical Emergency 1 Engine
3B Trauma, Vehicle Entrapment, Vehicle into Structure 1 Engine & 1 Rescue
4 Transformer Fire, Arcing Wires 1 Engine
4B Vehicle Fire 2 Engines & 1 Rescue
5 Box Alarm, Activated Smoke Alarm, Report of Structure Fire, Interior Odor of Gas or Smoke 2-3 Engines**, 1 Truck & 1 Rescue
5A Exterior Odor of Gas or Smoke 1 Engine
5B Activated C.O Detector, Elevator Entrapment 1 Engine & 1 Truck
5-5 Additional Resource to the Scene Requested Apparatus
9-9 Fire in a Mutual Aid Jurisdiction 1 Engine

**Varies depending on the occupancy of structure

Fire Companies

Engine companies

Teaneck's four Engine Companies are tasked with securing a water supply from a fire hydrant, then extinguishing a fire. All four engine companies have a pump rated at 1,500 GPM and carry between 750 & 1000 gallons of water. Additionally each engine carries: fire hoses of varying diameters, (1 3/4", 2 1/2", 3" and 5") various forcible entry tools, emergency medical supplies, ground ladders and rescue tools to deal with an assortment of fires and emergencies.

Ladder Truck Company

Teaneck's one Ladder Company (Truck Company) is tasked with search and rescue, forcible entry, and ventilation at the scene of a fire. TFD currently only operates one type of Ladder Truck: a Tower Ladder, equipped with a 100' telescoping boom and bucket mounted in the center (mid-mount) of the apparatus.

Rescue Company

Teaneck's one Rescue Company operates one Rescue Truck, which carries a wide variety of specialized tools and equipment to aide in operations at technical rescues. This includes various forcible entry tools, emergency medical supplies, and rescue tools to deal with an assortment of fires and emergencies, including motor vehicle accidents and some hazardous material incidents.

Teaneck's Fire Apparatus as of 12/31/17
Apparatus Year Manufacterer Tank Pump Aerial
Engine 1 2011 Sutphen 750 Gallons 1500 GPM N/A
Engine 2 2001 E-One 750 Gallons 1500 GPM N/A
Engine 3 2002 E-One 1000 Gallons 1500 GPM N/A
Engine 4 1996 E-One 750 Gallons 1500 GPM N/A
Tower Ladder 1 2009 Sutphen N/A 1750 GPM 100'
Rescue 1 2006 E-One/Saulsbury N/A N/A N/A
Engine 5* 1990 Mack/Darley 750 Gallons 1500 GPM N/A
Engine 6* 1990 Mack/Darley 750 Gallons 1500 GPM N/A
Tower Ladder 2** 1987/2014 Sutphen N/A 1500 GPM 95'
Rescue 2* 1988 Mack/Ranger N/A N/A N/A

* Indicates Reserve Apparatus

** Tower Ladder 2 was originally purchased in 1987 and was refurbished in 2014

Other units

  • Thawing Unit : The Thawing Unit is a vehicle that carries a portable steam-generating boiler; its high-pressure steam is used to thaw frozen hydrants, connections, and hoselines, and to keep equipment on the fireground, such as aerial ladders, free of ice. Teaneck operates and stores the Bergen County Thawing Unit which responds county or state wide if needed.
  • Foam Unit : The Foam Tender (4000-5000 gallons) and Foam Trailer (300-500 gallons) are used to transport copious amounts of firefighting foam to any emergency that requires it, usually Class B fires or large fuel spills. Once again Teaneck operates and stores the Bergen County Foam Tender and Foam Trailer which responds county or state wide if needed.
Bergen County Fire Apparatus Stored and Manned by Teaneck
Apparatus Year Manufacterer Tank Pump Aerial
Foam Tender 101 1996 Freightliner 4000 Gallons N/A N/A
Quick Attack Response Vehicle (QRV) 2004 Ford 100 Gallons N/A N/A
Thawing Unit 2011 Ford N/A N/A N/A

Union representation

All members of the Teaneck Fire Department are represented by the Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) The Fire Officers: lieutenants, captains, and battalion chiefs, are a part of FMBA Local 242 whereas the firefighters are a part of FMBA Local 42

Stations and apparatus

Station 4 on Windsor Road
Teaneck's Fire Stations and Companies as of 10/1/18
Station Engine Company Ladder Company Rescue Company Special Unit(s) Reserve Unit(s) Address
Headquarters Engine 1 Tower Ladder 1 Rescue 1 Car 32 (Battalion Chief/Tour Commander),

Bergen County Thawing Unit, Bergen County Foam Tender 101, Box 54-1 Canteen/Rehab Unit

Engine 5 1231 Teaneck Road
Station 2 Engine 2 Box 54-2 Canteen/Rehab Unit Engine 6 & Rescue 2 617 Cedar Lane
Station 3 Engine 3 Marine 1 & Marine 2 (Rescue Boats), Bergen County Quick Attack Response Vehicle (QRV), Foam Trailer 370 Teaneck Road
Station 4 Engine 4 Tower Ladder 2 1375 Windsor Road

Disbanded, relocated or reorganized fire companies

Below is a list of TFD fire companies that have been disbanded, relocated or reorganized:

  • Engine 1: 16 Fairview Avenue – Relocated in 1920 (1217 Teaneck Road)
  • Engine 1: 1217 Teaneck Road – Relocated in 1948 (1231 Teaneck Road)
  • Engine 2: 513 Kenwood Place – Relocated in 1953 (617 Cedar Lane)
  • Engine 3: 395 Morningside Terrace – Relocated in 1990 (370 Teaneck Road)
  • Tower Ladder 2: 617 Cedar Lane – Relocated in 1968 (1375 Windsor Road)

References

  1. ↑ "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - History". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  2. ↑ "Teaneck Public Library". www.teaneck.org. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  3. ↑ "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - Fire". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  4. ↑ Aberback, Brian. "Acting fire chief takes over in Teaneck", The Record (Bergen County), April 7, 2005. Accessed July 3, 2008. "Teaneck is one of four towns in Bergen County that have a paid fire department. Hackensack, Ridgewood and Englewood are the others."
  5. ↑ "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - Box 54 Canteen Unit". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  6. ↑ www.evogov.com. "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - Fire". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  7. ↑ www.evogov.com. "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - Fire". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  8. ↑ www.evogov.com. "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - Fire". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  9. ↑ "Township of Teaneck New Jersey - Fire". www.teanecknj.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
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