Fire News New Jersey, July 2022

Serving NEW JFire, ERSEY Serving Rescue

VOLUME 17, NO. 2

W W W .FIRENE WS .COM

Fire,Serving Rescue & EMS Fire, Rescue & EMS Heroes & EMS Heroes Heroes Since 1973 Since 1996 1973 JULY 2022

See story on page 6.

- Fire News photo by Michael Ratcliffe

Barge Fire Out After 26 Hour Fight See Story On Page 13

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 3

In this issue...

Fire News’ Looking Back 2015 fires in Ocean City, Camden City and Paterson See story on page 8

Essex County Plane Crash Crews respond to a civilian jet crash on Easter Sunday.

See story on page 12

Orange 4-Alarmer Firefighters arrive to a house fully involved.

See story on page 21

Repaupo Museum’s 6th Spring BBQ The Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Assn. event is a success.

See story on page 23

A Service for New Jersey Firefighters and EMS Heroes 146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713 FRANK C. TROTTA, Publisher TIM EDWARDS, Chief Operating Officer DENNIS WHITTAM, Editor GARY P. JOYCE, Managing Editor MARIE TROTTA, Vice President, Production/Sales LYNN SEDLER, Art Director CLIFF CHIESA, Production Manager BARBARA CONNOLLY, Advertising Sales BRYAN LOPEZ, Editorial Assistant GREGORY JONES, Graphic Artist FIRE NEWS NEW JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHERS Chad Aaronson, John Axford, Keith Addie, Adam Alberti, Ted Aurig, Kenneth E.Badger, Dick Berry, Tommy Bilancia, Thomas Bischoff, James Bonner, Joseph Brecko, John Buttino, Bob Chester, John Clark, Alex Coulter, Carl Crossman, Damien Davis, Chris Denton, Alan Dumoff, Brian Duddy, Brett M. Dzadik, Dan Eckert, Doug Fenichel, Tom Finnegan, Joe Fortunato, Liam Glinane, Israel Goldstein, Thomas Hayden Jr., David Hernandez, Robert Halberstadt, Roman Izaryk, Erica Jacoby, Jeffrey Konya, Kevin Maloney, Robert Munson, Paul Newborn, Robert F. Newkirk, Denis Niland, Mike Nowacki, Elvin Padilla, Ed Pinkevicz, Dane Policastro, Michael Ratcliffe, Joe Repici, Paul Rodriquez, Mark Rosetti, Chris Saraceno, Robert Scollan, Dennis C. Sharpe, Steve Sperlak, Steve Skipton, Matt Spadaro, Danielle Tagerty, Tim Sullivan, Robert Tallaksen, Wayne Tasaki, Giuseppe Tartaglia, Jim Trepeos, Gregory Taylor, Ron Trout, Ken VanPelt, Kevin Umbach, Jose Vazquez, Ronnie Viola, Tom Vogel, Tom Walker, Mike Wallace, Chris Whitam, Wells P. Wilson, Gerald Wyhopen, Jr., Peter Danzo. Columnists: Bruce Johnson, John Salka, Billy Goldfeder.

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Cologne Brush Fire A small brush fire requires a water air drop.

See story on page 26

Twelve Editions Serving Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wildwood, NJ Proud Member Of:

Official Publication

Obituary

of the NJ State Firemen’s Convention

West Long Branch’s Biagio Guzzi See story on page 30

PLUS: Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 21 Special Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 26 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 28 Up Close & Personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 29

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Contents are copyrighted. Editorial and advertising copy cannot be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Fire News is published monthly by Fire News LLC, with corporate offices at 146 South Country Road, Bellport, NY 11713.

Page 4, Fire News, July 2022

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From the Editor’s Desk Dennis Whittam, Editor

Are You Ready for Something That Can’t Happen?

An AS/MCI (active shooter/mass casualty incident) drill was held at Greenport (NY) High School on June 4, 2022. The drill had been scheduled months prior, but somewhat eerily took place 11 days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting in which 19 elementary school students and two teachers were slaughtered. The proximity to that latest AS/MCI is what has prompted this editorial. The drill involved the Southold Police, Suffolk Police, North Fork fire departments and EMS services from Jamesport to Orient, and even several South Fork departments, along with moulaged teenage actors to play victims. By all reports the exercise was a success.

But what makes a successful AS/MCI drill?

According to FEMA’s 2013 white paper, Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department Operational Considerations and Guide for Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Incidents, there are several things that responding agencies need to incorporate into a specific SOP for such an event.

Why formalize reacting to an AS/MCI if your department already has an MCI plan in place?

Because the “AS” part of the exercise makes it, nearly, an entirely different animal.

Some particular areas of focus, become apparent with little thought and are proved out — or have problems made obvious — by an AS/MCI

drill. Some key facets are communication between the parties, including ensuring all parties are not only able to communicate with each other, but use the same terminologies when doing so.

This is unlikely to be a problem between FDs and EMS, but it may become a problem when communicating with law enforcement (LE) who, in most instances, will be first on the scene.

Other areas of concern will become apparent in frequent drills involving all the aforementioned agencies, as well as local hospitals and trauma units. There needs to be a single Incident Command Post for fire, EMS and LE. The goal of any and all SOPs is to plan, prepare and respond in a manner that will save the maximum number of lives possible.

Although in their careers most first responders have encountered some horrific scenarios, the results of a mass shooting of unarmed people — seemingly more often than not children with obviously terminal wounds — will undoubtedly be something first responders will never forget.

Many of the first responders will be long-term casualties of this ongoing slaughter, even if they never spilled a drop of their own blood. As psychology researcher Deborah C. Beidel, Ph.D. of the University of Central Florida, who has studied the impact these slaughters have on first

responders, put it, “There are just some events that are so horrific that no human being should be able to just process that and put it away.”

Add after-action reports and treatments to the long list of things an AS/MCI SOP demands.

A last note … “It’ll never happen here” too often becomes, “Oh my God, how did this happen?”

Be prepared for the thing that’ll never happen.

And the only way to do so is to train for it.

- Gary P. Joyce Managing Editor Gary P. Joyce is filling in for Editor Dennis Whitman this month. Joyce is a decorated three-tour Viet Nam combat veteran.

Page 6, Fire News, July 2022

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Cover Story

2-Alarm Blaze Destroys Perth Amboy Home Two firefighters were injured battling a blaze that gutted a two-family dwelling in Perth Amboy on May 7, 2022, at 1255.

Perth Amboy firefighters were dispatched to William Street.

Upon their arrival, heavy smoke was showing from all floors of the 2-1/2 story structure and heavy fire was discovered in the basement. A second alarm was quickly sounded for mutual aid. An aggressive attack and primary searches were initiated, but deteriorating interior conditions — caused by balloon-frame construction allowing rapid vertical extension — prompted an evacuation of all personnel from the structure and a switch to defensive operations. Multiple hoselines and Truck 2’s aerial master stream were utilized to extinguish the fire and protect exposures. While the fire building was a total loss, only minimal damage was sustained to the side B exposure. Six people were left homeless. The two injured firefighters were treated at local hospitals. Companies that operated on scene included Perth Amboy Engines 1, 2 and 3, Trucks 2 and 3, and Rescue 1, along with Engine 3 (Melrose) from Sayreville and Truck 6 (Woodbridge) and Rescue 8 (Hopelawn) from Woodbridge.

- Fire News photos by Michael Ratcliffe

Page 8, Fire News, July 2022

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Looking Back Ocean City - 2015

Camden City - 2015

Ocean City Dispatch received a call on November 19, 2015, about warehouse fire. Upon arrival, Chief Christopher Breunig reported fire in the rear of the building. Access to the seat of the fire was difficult because of the steel construction of the building and the electrical service had fused itself to the metal building eneregizing the building. - Fire News photo by Robert Macom

On October 17, 2015, a dwelling fire was reported on Baring Street in Camden City. Command reported fire extension into the attached exposures. One minor firefighter injury was reported.

- Fire News photo by Ted Aurig

Paterson - 2015 On November 9, 2015, Paterson crews responded to the area of Market Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard for a fire in an abandoned 1895-built city-block-sized armory.

As time went on, command requested a fifth, sixth and finally a seventh alarm.

Seven hours after the arrival of the first companies, fire started venting out of the roof. Some 36 hours from the initial dispatch, units were still on scene.

- Fire News photo by Peter Danzo

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 9

Asphalt Trailer Blaze in Lawrence Township

Firefighters in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, utilized foam to extinguish a fire involving an asphalt trailer on May 23, 2022. It was 1733, when Lawrenceville Fire (Station 23) was dispatched to the Red Roof Inn on Brunswick Pike for what was initially reported to be a rubbish fire. A column of black smoke was looming in the distance as Lawrence Township Deputy Chief Ray Nagy responded. As a result,

additional apparatus was dispatched from the Lawrence Road (Station 22) and Slackwood (Station 21) fire companies. Arriving to find the bed of an asphalt trailer ablaze in the parking lot, firefighters deployed foam via a Pro/Pak injector connected to a 1-3/4 inch hoseline stretched from Rescue 22. As a result, the fire was quickly knocked down.

- Fire News photo by Michael Ratcliffe

MVA Starts Woodland Fire

The volunteer fire companies of Mays Landing and Cologne responded to Harding Highway for the report of an MVA and fire on April 16, 2022, at 1636. Mays Landing Assistant Chief Ken Badger, Jr., arrived to find a utility truck into the woodlands on fire and spreading. Command had Mays Landing Tender 1819 stretch their front bumper lines and attack the fire.

New Jersey Forest Fire Unit C-7, C-25, C-5 and C-35 arrived on location and extinguished the woodland fire. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Township of Hamilton Police. Also responding was Township of Hamilton EMS. - Fire News photos by Ken Badger

Page 10, Fire News, July 2022

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Ejection at Cologne Overturn MVA The volunteer fire companies of Cologne and Mays Landing along with EMS and police responded to New York Avenue across from Harding Run II on April 20, 2022, at 1735, for a report of an MVA with rollover. Firefighters arrived to find a passenger vehicle on its side against a tree and obscured by its branches with its occupants ejected into the woodlands. Firefighters assisted EMS with treating and removal of victims, while other firefighters checked the vehicle for other possibly entrapped occupants, removing the battery and using extrication tools to move the vehicle off the tree. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Township of Hamilton Police.

- Fire News photos by Ken Badger

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Easter Sunday Plane Crash

On Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, the Fairfield Fire Department responded to the Essex County Airport for a plane crash. A 2020 Citation CJ3 was attempting to land when it overshot the runway and slid down an embankment into a brook. The three occupants were uninjured but the 400 gallons of jet fuel was spilling into the

waterway. Nutley Fire HazMat responded to the scene as a dam was created downstream. West Caldwell responded with an engine and a rescue to assist with booms for the water. Crews remained on scene for the evening as a tow company removed the plane from the water.

- Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 13

Bargaintown Sets Up LZ

The Bargaintown Volunteer Fire Company responded to the Egg Harbor Township High School on May 9, 2022, to set up an LZ for the South Star Medical Helicopter called to transport a burn victim.

- Fire News photo by William McFarland

Barge Fire on Delaware Bay

A barge hauling junked household appliances caught fire May 23, 2022, on the Delaware Bay just off the coast of Fortescue around 0100. After burning for 26 hours the fire was extinguished and the barge was towed to Camden. - Fire News photo by William Cripps

Page 14, Fire News, July 2022

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Atlantic Auto Salvage Yard Blaze

Multiple fire companies from Hamilton and Galloway townships were dispatched to Atlantic Auto Salvage on Route 50 on May 12, 2022, for a report of a structure fire. First arriving units reported a large pile of debris burning and quickly changed the assignment. A water tender

task force was used to fight the fire with engines from South Egg Harbor fighting the fire on the Route 50 side and Cologne’s tower on the County Boulevard side. The fire was declared under control in four hours.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

East Orange Church Fire

On April 18, 2022, East Orange companies were dispatched to a church on Stueben Street for a fire. Quint 2 arrived to smoke showing from a two-story church. Car 3 arrived and transmitted a second alarm, bringing all East Orange companies to the scene along with a Bloomfield engine. Heavy fire began to run the top floor and show from the vents on the alpha side. At this time all crews were

ordered out of the building. Truck 2 conducted vertical ventilation while Quint 2 used its ladder pipe to knock down fire in the attic space. A Cascade unit from Bloomfield was also requested to the scene to fill air bottles as crews re-entered the interior to continue suppression.

- Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

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Paterson Apartment Fire Stopped On April 18, 2022, the Paterson Fire Department responded to a two-story apartment building set back in an alley on Govenour Street and found smoke and fire showing from windows on the Alpha-Delta corner. A working fire was transmitted and two lines were stretched, containing the fire to the original apartment. Searches proved negative and lines were being picked up as the fire was placed under control within 20 minutes. This was one of the first fires for the brand new Ferrara RAC Unit.

- Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Nutley MVA into Pole On April 18, 2022, the Nutley Fire Department responded to East Passaic Avenue for a car versus pole MVA. Engine 1 and Ladder 1 arrived to a single-vehicle MVA and a snapped utility pole. EMS-1 transported one patient to Mountianside while the roadway was shut down for PSE&G to replace the pole.

- Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Cologne MVA The volunteer fire companies of Cologne and Mays Landing along with Township of Hamilton Police and EMS were dispatched on May 2, 2022, at 0451, for a report of an MVA at Brewster Drive and West Jersey Avenue. The call was upgraded to a rollover with entrapment that added Laureldale to the assignment.

Firefighters arrived to a passenger vehicle on its side, driver’s side down. Firefighters stabilized the vehicle before removing the occupant with EMS treating and transporting the patient to Atlanticare Trauma Center, Atlantic City Campus. The cause of the crash was under investigation by township police. Also responding were Atlanticare Paramedics.

- Fire News photo by Ken Badger

Quick Mulch Fire Knockdown The volunteer fire companies of Cardiff and Farmington responded to the 6600 block of the Black Horse Pike on May 30, 2022, for a report of a mulch fire. One line was used to knock down the fire.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Page 18, Fire News, July 2022

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Nutley Brush Fire

On March 29, 2022, Nutley Engine 1 and Ladder 1 responded to High Street for reports of a large amount of smoke coming from a house. Companies arrived to smoke in the area and found a large brush fire in the rear of multiple homes. Two handlines were stretched to the top and bottom of the hill to extinguish the fire. Extensive overhaul was needed for the area and crews remained on scene for nearly an hour.

- Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

Annual Staged Crash Drill

The Egg Harbor Township Fire Department in Atlantic County held their annual staged mock crash drill for the high school students on May 26, 2022. The demonstration is held annually just before prom time to point out the perils of drunk and impaired driving.

- Fire News photos courtesy Chief Wally Bakeley

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Budd Lake Car Fire Recently, calls came in for a car fire in the parking lot on Clark Drive in Budd Lake.

FM-3 arrived and was followed by Cars 50, 51 and 52.

Engine 59 arrived and stretched a 1-¾ inch handline and had the fire knocked down within 15 minutes.

There were no injuries and the owner said he had some work done on the car.

- Fire News photo by A/C Kevin J. Maloney; Budd Lake FC

Fire News, July 2022, Page 19

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AC Fire School Underway Atlantic County Fire School Training with the most basic training in the use of hose, hose lays, and storage.

- Fire News photos by Dennis C. Sharpe

New Apparatus, New Firehouse On April 30, 2022, the Holmdel Fire Rescue Company 2 held a dedication ceremony for their new 2021 Pierce Enforcer Engine 18-77. Companies from across Central Jersey came out to the new firehouse on Crawfords Corner Road for the dedication ceremony for the new truck and building. Live music was played

by Not Leaving Sober as food and drinks were serve while visitors toured the new station and engine. \ - Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 21

4-Alarm House Fire in Orange On April 18, 2022, Orange Fire arrived to a 2-1/2 story home on Lincoln Avenue, which was heavily involved in fire. A second alarm was struck as crews attempted an offensive attack. As heavy fire began to consume most of the home, an evacuation order was given while transmitting the third and fourth alarms. Multiple master streams were placed into service and, as conditions improved, another offensive attack was attempted but crews were once again evacuated as heavy fire burned through the roof. Companies remained on scene for most of the day. Mutual aid came from East Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn, Bloomfield, Belleville, Montclair, and Livingston.

- Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti

Announcement Annual Fire Muster The Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association in conjunction with the Camden County Board of Commissioners will hold its Annual Fire Muster on August 7, 2022, from 1000 to 1500 at Cooper River Park (North Park Drive and Airport Highway, Pensauken).

This fun family event will include fire truck displays, drafting, flea market and kids’ activities, apparatus judging and competition awards.

For more information go to www.clafaa.org or e-mail webmaster@clafaa.org.

Page 22, Fire News, July 2022

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Bargaintown Garage Fire

The volunteer fire companies of Bargaintown, Scullville and Cardiff responded to Superior Road for a report of a structure fire.

Bargaintown Chief Eugene Sharpe arrived and established command and reported heavy fire showing from the garage of a single-story wood frame dwelling. Scullville Ladder 1535 was followed by their Engine 1533 as they were on the air already investigating an alarm in

Mays Landing House Fire

The volunteer fire companies of Mays Landing, Laureldale, Weymouth and Richland in Atlantic County responded to Harding Highway in Hamilton Township on March 30, 2022, at 1010, for a structure fire. Assistant Chief Ken Badger, Jr., found items in the rear of a wood frame single-family home on fire with extension to the home. He entered the home and found an elderly female occupant inside and advised her to evacuate. A/C Badger was met by Atlantic County Fire Instructor Sherman Hartman in the front of the structure who was with the elderly occupant who advised them of dogs inside the home. At this time New Jersey Forest Fire Service C-5,Nicholas Bleyhl, arrived and all three went in and removed two dogs safely. Command reported a good portion of the home was saved from direct flame contact but most of it did receive heat, smoke, and some water damage. Crews did an excellent job of knocking down the fire and stopping its progress.

- Fire News photo by Ken Badger

their area. Engine 1533 layed a LDH supply line to 1535 which put their main into service. Bargaintown Engine 1527 stretched several handlines and was supplied by Scullville Tanker 1538 until a supply line was stretched to them from 1535. Cardiff firefighters assisted in the attack. The fire was brought under control with siding damage to neighboring homes.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 23

Successful Spring Barbecue at Repaupo Fire Museum

The Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association would like to say “thank you” to everyone who made our Repaupo Fire Museum’s 6th Annual Spring Barbecue another great day.

Approximately 40 CLAFAA members attended. There were over 35 pieces of vintage fire apparatus on display and the museum was

open for tours. Thank you for your support of our CLAFAA, our Repaupo Fire Museum and our endeavors to preserve fire and emergency services history.

- Fire News photos courtesy Keith Kemery, Pres. CLAFAA

Page 24, Fire News, July 2022

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Kitchen Fire Extends in Mays Landing

The volunteer fire companies of Mays Landing, Laureldale and Cologne responded to Mill Street in Mays Landing on April 14, 2022, at 1610, for a report of a structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find a multi-story wood frame structure with smoke showing. Mays Landing Captain Larry Birch III established command and had the crew of Mays Landing Tender 1819 stretch two lines with one to the front door and the second to the D/C side. The one to the front door knocked down the fire that was located in the kitchen, but not

before extending into the second floor. The line to the D/C side was used to extinguish fire that was exposed after firefighters opened up the exterior. Cologne Tower 18 was ordered to grab a hydrant and lay in with a LDH and raised its aerial to assist with opening up alongside Mays Landing Ladder 1815. The fire was brought under control quickly and was under investigation. Also responding were the Township of Hamilton EMS, Police, and Fire Investigator.

- Fire News photo by Ken Badger

MVA Starts Woods Fire

The volunteer fire companies of Farmington and Cardiff responded to Fire Road in the vicinity of Atlantic Electric for a report of an MVA with entrapment and fire. Farmington Chief Harry Goodman IV arrived and reported the person was out of the vehicle but there was fire spreading to the woods. Command requested the New Jersey

State Forest Fire Service, and had Cardiff come in from the north and cut off the fire, while Farmington extinguished the fire from the south. A total of 1750 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire and the cause of the crash is under investigation by the Egg Harbor Township Police Department. - Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Page 26, Fire News, July 2022

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Brush Fire in Cologne Requires Air Drop

The volunteer fire companies of Cologne and Mays Landing from the Township of Hamilton Fire Department in Atlantic County responded to Walmart Drive on April 15, 2022, at 1733 for a report of a brush fire. Firefighters arrived along with New Jersey Forest

Fire Service C-7 for a quarter-acre of wildland burning.

Firefighters were assisted by an air drop of water from Airtractor 61 with quick extinguishment and no extension to property.

- Fire News photos by Ken Badger

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 27

Wire Down in Lodi On March 28, 2022, the Lodi Fire Department was alerted for a house fire on Passaic Street. Police arrived and reported a house on fire and a second alarm was struck while fire units were en route. The first arriving chief had a downed primary wire on the sidewalk and requested all mutual aid to slow their response as the house did not appear to be involved. Upon further investigation slight extension was found in the home as mutual aid companies from Wallington, Hasbrouck Heights and Saddle Brook responded. PSE&G was requested on a rush and secured power to the area leaving a damaged fence and sidewalk with minor fire spread to the home.

- Fire News photo by Mark Rosetti

Fatality at Scullville MVA The volunteer fire companies of Scullville and Bargaintown along with EHT police and EMS responded to Ocean Heights Avenue at 0050 on April 2, 2022, for an MVA with entrapment. Scullville Chief Vern Cruse arrived to a single-vehicle accident with the driver heavily entrapped and obviously deceased. The driver was a 37-year-old male who was travelling east on Ocean Heights Avenue and lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway, striking a utility pole and splitting it into three pieces. Firefighters removed the driver using a modified extrication in which the vehicle is cut in certain places allowing the dash to me moved using rams. The driver was pronounced by a representative of the medical examiner’s office.

- Fire News photo by Cindy Badger

Page 28, Fire News, July 2022

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FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW… FIREHOUSE SYSTEMS AND THE PANTHER COMPRESSOR To say I am proud of my father, Fred Gandolfo, would not offer him the justice he deserved. To say I am amazed by my father, would be more fitting, because sometimes we can’t find the right words, we can only feel them. From childhood to this day, I’ve had the opportunity to watch my father pick up any broken object and be able to fix any problem in his personal life or business life; to troubleshoot it and, if any need isn’t met he'd find a way to meet it, especially if solving the problem meant he got to fabricate something.

After several years of development, I watched him build what the entire industry knows today as THE CAT. Little did I know then, The CAT would fuel an entire market change. Having my father’s love of the industry and safety of his client base as the driving force behind his design, leads to high quality, safe, efficient equipment. The CAT was only the beginning.

After the success of The CAT, my father began to design and produce a new line of Breathing Air Compressors — Panther Compressors. Of course, he offered standardized style systems, as always going above any other compressor manufacturer on the market, offering custom solutions to your need, space, and budget.

Recognizing two needs in the industry, my father put the pencil back on the paper and got to sketching out an idea. He wanted to offer

a Breathing Air Compressor Trailer Unit, one that a fire department would actually use. One that would safely operate on scene, one that would operate to its full potential without losing “steam,” one that would be safe for the long-term health of the operator. He needed to find a way to offer an economically friendly, efficient, easy to tow, safe to operate equipment in the middle of a world in the midst of an ecological and economic crisis.

With that … I repeat, to say I am proud of my dad, is not enough…nonetheless…We are very proud to introduce the world’s first battery powered breathing air compressor trailer. Made especially for you by my dad, Fred Gandolfo … the Panther ECO. The Panther ECO provides eight hours of run time at full load, emits no diesel or fumes and, most importantly, no thermal runaway! The Panther ECO is available in 10- 15or 20-horsepower versions.

Already have a breathing air trailer? We can upgrade your current system to the Panther ECO, feel free to ask us for your options/!

Remember: Go green…choose Panther Compressors.

- Liz Gandolfo For more info contact Fred or Liz Gandolfo at 631-661-7515; or Fred at Fred@coastalfiresystems.com or at Liz@coastalfiresystems.com

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Fire News, July 2022, Page 29

Up Close & Personal

Gary Green of the Linwood Fire Department at the controls of Ladder 5 during the Skyline condo fire on April 9, 2022, in Pleasantville. Gary is a retired Ocean City Fire Captain and Ladder 5 is the former OCFD Ladder 1 of which Gary was Captain.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Winslow Township Firefighter Sam Sofia running Winslow’s tanker at a joint drill on May 1, 2022.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Scullville’s Wendy Housand and West Atlantic City Volunteer Fire Company Chief Wallace Bakeley at the Egg Harbor Township Memorial Day Parade.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

For the third year on April, 3, 2022, the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department held its annual “Easter Bunny Around Town” drive-by event for the families and especially for the kids in Hasbrouck Heights.

- Fire News photo by Justin Watrell

Instructors Bill Merola, Joe Ward and Levon Clayton who received their 50-Year awards on April 20, 2022, at the Atlantic County Firefighters Association Valor Awards and 50 Year Awards ceremonies.

- Fire News photo by Dennis C. Sharpe

Demarest past Fire Chief and past Fire Association President Jeff Bellucci Poses with a 1948 Mack Pumper after the memorial service at the Fireman’s Monument after the town’s Memorial Day Parade. - Fire News photo by Chris ‘Doc’ Denton

Page 30, Fire News, July 2022

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Obituary

West Long Branch’s Biagio Guzzi

Recently the West Long Branch Fire Department assisted in the funeral procession following the death of active firefighter Biagio ‘Billy’ Guzzi who passed away on April 15, 2022. He was 56.

District 53’s antique Mack carried the casket while the other engines took part in the procession which went by the Monmouth Road Fire House where Firefighter Guzzi’s gear was set up next to the bell, which was rung as the procession passed under both ladder trucks.

Billy is survived by his cherished son, Biagio Joseph, his parents,

Joseph and Pasqua (Angiuli) Guzzi; his siblings, Santo, Anna Maria (Ben) Camooso, Rosettina (Ed) Bertini and Joseph, Jr. He also leaves behind his niece Carmela Bertini, many aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made payable to “Biagio Guzzi Trust:” in the memo section write for the benefit of his son Biagio Joseph Guzzi, P.O. Box 567, Long Branch, NJ 07740.

- Fire News photos by Mark Rosetti