On Saturday, December 24, 2005, at 0311 hours, the Blackwood Fire Company (Rescue 84), the Chews Landing Fire Company (Rescue 82), the Blenheim Fire Company (Engine 83), the Deptford Fire Department (Rescue 93) the Gloucester Township Emergency Medical Alliance (Squad 805 & 806), the Virtua Health Systems Mobile Intensive Care Unit (Medic 41), along with the New Jersey State Police were dispatched to New Jersey State Highway 42 (N.J.S.H. #42) in the area of mile post 8, southbound, for a reported motor vehicle crash.  Initial reports provided by the Camden County Communications Center indicated they had received reports of a three vehicle crash in which one of the vehicles had overturned and that the occupants were entrapped.  Upon the arrival of Chief John Vannoni (8401), it was determined that only one person was possibly entrapped; with the sole occupants from both of the other involved vehicles, including the overturned vehicle, denying injury. Initially, E.M.S. personnel made patient access through the passenger side door of the automobile containing the one possibly trapped person and initially planned on removing him through the same door.  After examining the situation more closely it was determined that removal of the driver’s door would be necessary to accommodate proper patient stabilization and packaging prior to removal from the vehicle.  The crew from R-846, along with personnel from R-826, made quick work of removing this door.  Crews from Engine 832 and 842 provided fire protection during the extrication.  The operation was completed by 0339 with all companies cleared from the scene at 0411 hours. The cause of this crash is being investigated by the NJ State Police, Bellmawr Barracks.

Evan (5) and Matthew (3) Reilly, residents of the Cherrywood section of Fire District #4, enthusiastically welcome Santa to their neighborhood.

Nikki, a resident of the Chestnut Glen section of Fire District #4, joyously accepts a special gift from Santa.

Nikki hands Santa a marker as she requests he autograph her cast.

Monday, November 21, 2005 at 2212, Engine 84 was dispatched to 1235 Black Horse Pike  in the area of Sinatra Plaza for reported wires down.   Engine 842 and Tower Ladder 844 arrived simultaneously to find an energized primary wire arching on the ground with an exposure of a fence.  Crews stood by until PSE&G arrived and secured the power to the downed wire. E-842 then stretched a handline to extinguish the fire and cool down the asphalt.  The company went available at 2323.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2005 , at 0012 hours, the Chews Landing Fire Company (Station 82), the Blackwood Fire Company (Station 84), the Blenheim Fire Company (Station 83), the Runnemede Fire Company (Station 75) and the Gloucester Township Emergency Medical Alliance (Squad 80) were dispatched to the Lakeview Town homes, unit #152, for a reported building fire.  Initial reports, provided by the Camden County Communications Center , indicated that police were on location and reporting heavy fire showing from the rear of the townhouse.  Upon the arrival of Chief John Vannoni (8401), medium smoke was evident emanating from floor #2, Division “A”.  Engine 841 arrived first and made the initial attack with a 1 ¾” handline deployed through the Division “A” entryway.  Engine 821 arrived second and established a water supply for E-841; the crew was assigned to deploy a back-up line from E-841.  Tower 824 was assigned to Division “A” and the crew assisted the first in engine crew.  Tower ladder 844 and Engine 842 were assigned to Division “C”.  The fire was placed under control at 0032 hours.   The fire was held to the unit of origin but light smoke damage was sustained to two exposure units.  The cause of this fire is being investigated by the local and county fire marshals’ office.  One minor injury was sustained by a firefighter who suffered a minor laceration to his arm.

On Monday, November 14, 2005, at 2143  Engine 84 was  dispatched to 80 Broadacres Drive for a highway hazard.  Initial  reports indicated a  vehicle was  leaking gasoline.  Upon arrival of E-842 at 2150, a single vehicle crash was found with a small  amount of antifreeze on the roadway.  Gloucester  Township  Police  were  in  search  of  several   people  who  had fled the accident scene and reportedly were hiding in a  wooded area  close to the crash.  E-842 offered up  their  thermal  imaging  camera  (TIC) to  assist in  the  search.  Crews  from the Engine applied granular absorbent to the spill and secured the power to the vehicle.  None of the occupants were found, and the company went available at 2221.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2005, at 1333 Engine 84 was dispatched to 80 Broadacres Drive for a brush fire.  Upon arrival of 8401 (Chief Vannoni) at 1338, a small slow moving brush fire was found to the rear of the Gloucester Township Recreational Center.  Moments later Engine 842 arrived and were ordered to stretch a forestry line.  The fire was quickly controlled and the company went available at 1401.

At 1623 hrs on Sunday November 6, 2005, Blackwood firefighters, Gloucester Township EMS, Police and Virtua Paramedics were dispatched to 415 Hamilton Ave at the Maple Terrace Apartments for a reported structural collapse.  Initial reports were for a 2^nd floor deck collapse with 3 injuries. On arrival firefighters found 4 victims with various injuries.  A second floor balcony had apparently separated from the rear of the building throwing the victims to the ground.  The building did not suffer any additional structural damage.  Crews from Rescue 846, Engine 841 and Engine 842 provided a safe work area and then medical care to the injured, assisting Gloucester Township EMS pending the arrival of additional ambulances from Pine Hill, Washington Township and Stratford.  All victims were packaged and transported within 30 minutes and the scene turned over to Gloucester Township Police and the Gloucester Township Construction Official at 1659 hrs.

On October 27, 2005, at 1039 hours, Lakeland Fire Department (Engine 2811) requested assistance at a vehicle fire in an open field to the rear of the Gloucester Township sports complex on Woodbury Turnersville Road.  This request brought Blackwood Fire Company (Engine 841) and Chews Landing Fire Company (Power Wagon 825) to the scene.  Upon the arrival of Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Paul Sandrock, members of the Camden County Fire Marshal’s Office, who had responded to the scene and Engine 841’s crew, were assigned to assist the operator of Engine 2811 in deploying a handline to extinguish the fire.  The fire was quickly extinguished with the one 1 3/4 inch handline.  Engine 841 cleared at 1112 hours.

On Friday, October 7, 2005, at 0153 hours, Engine 84 (Blackwood), Squad 806 (Gloucester Twp. EMS) and Medic 42 were dispatched to 450 Erial Road in the area of Highland High School for a pedestrian motor vehicle crash.  Upon arrival of E-842 at 0201, a three car MVC was found on Blackwood Clementon Road involving a Gloucester Township Police cruiser.  After a scene survey was conducted, it was found there were no pedestrians involved.  Apparently, the police cruiser had stopped a motorist for unspecified reasons, just as the officer was about to exit his vehicle, he was struck from behind by another motorist causing the cruiser to strike the vehicle in front.  Engines 842 and 841 assisted the squad with patient packaging and disconnecting of the batteries on the vehicles.  The officer and the driver of the stopped vehicle were transported to local area hospitals where they were reportedly listed in stable condition.  The other motorist declined medical treatment and was taken into police custody.  Both Engines remained on location until 0401 to assist with the investigation into the crash.

On Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at 2144 hours. Station 82 (Chews Landing), Station 84 (Blackwood), Rescue 75 (Runnemede) and Squad 806 (Gloucester Township EMS) were alerted of a dwelling fire at 8 Stone River Road in the Glen Oaks section of Chews Landing.  Initial reports provided by Camden County Communications indicated a dryer fire.  First arriving, Engine 821, reported light to medium smoke from the number one floor and would be going into service.  TL-844 arrived at 2153 and conducted a primary search of the dwelling, while E-842 and E-841 prepared to establish primary and secondary water supplies.  R-846 arrived and assisted with scene lighting to ensure a safe operational area.  With the fire quickly extinguished by E-821's crew and no extension into the dwelling, units from Blackwood cleared the scene at 2237.

On Thursday, September 29, 2005, at 1433 hours, the Blackwood Fire Company (Engine 84), the Chews Landing Fire Company (Engine 82), and the Blenheim Fire Company (Engine 83), along with the New Jersey State Police were dispatched to New Jersey State Highway 42 (N.J.S.H. #42) in the area of exit 8 northbound for a reported vehicle fire.  Reports provided by the Camden County Communications Center, after the apparatus began responding, indicated they had received reports of a bus on fire along the northbound shoulder near exit 8.  Upon the arrival of Chief John Vannoni (8401), a New Jersey Transit bus, with fire showing from the area of the passenger side rear windows, was observed.  Due to a lack of water supply along the highway, additional engine companies from Lambs Terrace Fire Company (Engine 85), Gloucester County Washington Township (Engine 10-1) and Deptford Fire Department (Engine 9-3) were requested to initiate a water shuttle operation.  With the assistance of two engine companies (E-821 and E-866), Chief Joe Reichert (8201) was assigned to establish a continuous water supply from hydrants located off the highway but accessible through a parking lot adjacent to the incident.  R-826 arrived on location first at 1443 hours and was assigned to make the initial attack.  Engine 841 arrived approximately 30 seconds later and was assigned to supply 826 and assist in the deployment of a back-up line for fire suppression.  The fire was knocked down and brought under control through the use of the tank water brought onto the highway.  The water supply operation was terminated just prior to the lines being charged.  The bus was occupied by only the driver at the time of the fire.  No injuries were sustained as a result of this incident.  The cause of this fire is being investigated by local and county fire marshals and Transport of New Jersey safety personnel.  Companies cleared the scene at 1545 hours.

Personnel from R-826 and E-841 advance initial hose lines to control the fire. (All photos by Chief J. Burleigh, Bellmawr Fire Co.)	Personnel enter front door of the bus while Captain Al Adomonis prepares to initiate outside vent.

Sunday, September 25, 2005, Engine 842 (Blackwood), Rescue 826 (Chews Landing), and Tower Ladder 624 (Pine Hill) covered Burlington County Station 363 (Mount Laurel Fire Headquarters) while they were committed on a drill.  The drill was a simulated terrorist attack at the Lockheed Martin building that would require a countywide response.  While Mount Laurel and surrounding departments operated, Engine 842 responded to three medical assist calls, and Rescue 826 responded to an elevator rescue assignment.  All cover companies were released and returned to their quarters at 1345.

On Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 1923 hours, Engine 84 along with Squad 805 and Medic 46 were dispatched to 1360 Blackwood Clementon Road for a motor vehicle crash.  Initial reports indicated a motorcyclist was involved and the Gloucester Township Police were requesting an expedited response.  Camden County Communications also advised they had a helicopter on standby.  At 1930, Chief Vannoni (8401) arrived to find a car versus motorcycle with the cyclist lying in the street.  Rescue 846 arrived next and was ordered to send it's EMS personnel to tend to the patient.  Hearing the reports and with Blackwood and Chews Landing scheduled for cooperative training at 1930, E-821 responded in to assist in the landing of the helicopter if needed.  After the arrival of Medic 46 and Squad 805, it was determined that the patient would be transported by ground.  The patient was packaged and transported to a local area hospital.  R-846 remained on scene until 2030 to assist the Gloucester Township Police with scene lighting as they conducted their investigation into the crash.

TL-844 and E-841 on side A of the building

Two drop ceilings and a fixed tile ceiling concealed the fire

Damage to ceiling joists

Crews from Blackwood and Chews Landing work together restoring TL-844

On Sunday, September 11, 2005, at 1408 hours, the Blackwood Fire Company (Station 84), the Blenheim Fire Company (Station83) and the Gloucester Township Emergency Medical Alliance (Squad 805) were dispatched to #136 State Street for a reported dwelling fire.  Initial reports, provided by the Camden County Communications Center , indicated they had received a report of an attached garage fire.

Upon the arrival of Assistant Chief John Carlin (8402) light smoke was issuing from the garage and a small area of fire was evident just inside the overhead door opening.  Additionally, the strong odor of gasoline was evident throughout the area; it was quickly learned, during the initial interview of the homeowner, that he had kicked a plastic can of gasoline over which was then ignited by a charcoal smoker being operated just outside the garage.  Tower Ladder 844, which is stationed just around the corner from this location, was the first arriving unit and, rather then awaiting the arrival of Engine 841, Chief Carlin had TL 844 operate as a quint and place their 1 ¾” bumper line in service.    Engine 841 was assigned to establish a water supply and to deploy a back up line from the engine.  The small fire was rapidly controlled by the one line from TL-844; with no extension or damage sustained to the living space of the residence.  No injuries were sustained as a result of this incident.

Firefighter Chuck Dougherty, Jr. uses TL-844’s Bullard thermal imaging camera to check for extension during the overhaul phase of this incident.

After quickly extinguishing this small fire, the crew of Tower Ladder 844 awaits the arrival of the Fire Marshal.

Firefighter John McCann, the driver of E-841, begins to work on breaking down and securing his engine.

Minor damage was sustained to the attached garage at this incident.

On Saturday, September 3, 2005, at 0106 hours, the Blackwood Fire Company (Rescue 84), the Chews Landing Fire Company (Rescue 82), the Blenheim Fire Company (Engine 83), the Gloucester Township Emergency Medical Alliance (Squad 806), the Virtua Health Systems Mobile Intensive Care Unit (Medic 41), along with the New Jersey State Police were dispatched to New Jersey State Highway 42 (N.J.S.H. #42) in the area of mile post 9.7, southbound, for a reported motor vehicle crash.  Initial reports provided by the Camden County Communications Center indicated they had received reports of a vehicle which had overturned and at least one person was trapped.  Upon the arrival of Chief Vannoni (8401) a single vehicle crash was discovered at the base of the berm, which was approximately 3-5 feet below the level of the road service.  The vehicle, a pickup truck, had struck a tree, pushing it to the ground beneath of it, overturned and came to rest against another tree.  The driver of this vehicle was extensively entangled between the driver’s door, the steering column and dashboard.   Additionally, gasoline was leaking from the vehicle fuel tank that had been breached.

Personnel from R-826 and R-846 continue to operate under the supervision of Captain Adomonis.

View of passenger compartment from the driver’s side.

On the morning of Thursday, August 25, 2005, Station 84 members were preparing for company training when they monitored the alarm dispatching Rescue 62 (Pine Hill Fire Department), Engine 256 and Battalion 2505 (Winslow Township Fire Department) to 127 Berlin Cross Keys Road, Pine Hill for a rescue assignment involving a construction worker falling into a hole.  The response was upgraded to a Trench Rescue Assignment and Technical Rescue Teams 232 (Waterford Township Fire Department) and 51 (Gloucester City Fire Department) were added to the assignment shortly after the initial alarm when the Camden County Fire & Ambulance Communications received additional calls reporting a construction worker trapped waste deep in a collapsed trench.  First arriving Rescue 626 confirmed a construction worker trapped waste deep by a trench collapse in a field approximately 300 hundred feet of the roadway.

At 0955 hours Rescue 846 and Tower Ladder 844 responded on a special call.  Upon arrival, rescue and truck members assembled hand tools and equipment and reported to the forward manpower staging area for assignment.  Upon arrival at the manpower staging area, both companies were immediately deployed to perform support functions, assisting technical rescue team members with deployment of timber and equipment as well as set up a cutting station.

Hot, warm and cold zones were established early into the incident in an effort to control the area immediately around the unstable trench which measured approximately eight feet wide by twenty feet long by twenty feet deep.  The trapped worker was successfully extracted from the collapse approximately one and a half hours after the initial alarm showing no immediate signs of injury as a result of the collapse.

Company members standby just outside the established warm zone, ready to deploy equipment as directed.  Shoring panels, timber and other equipment were hand carried to the site and staged in order to insure ready access when needed.

E.M.S. members package and prepare the patient for transportation to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.     

On August 16, 2005 , at 1056 hours, a Gloucester Township Police Officer notified his communication center that he had discovered a vehicle fire on Church Street at the New Jersey State Highway #42 off ramp.  Blackwood Fire Company (Engine 84) was dispatched at 1056 hours.  Upon the arrival of Chief John Vannoni (8401) an automobile heavily involved in fire, was observed.  The Gloucester Township Police Department had controlled traffic in a fashion which provided a safe work zone for the arriving fire department to work within.  Engine 841 arrived on location at 1057 hours and the fire was quickly extinguished with one 1 ¾” handline.  The company cleared and became available at 1129 hours.

Engine 841 arrives on location at 1057 hours.

Fire Marshal Keith Kemery deploys the 1 ¾” line from E-841 while firefighters Jeff Johnson and David Vannoni mask-up.

Firefighters Johnson and Vannoni move up to place the line in service.

Firefighters Johnson and Vannoni begin to move in to extinguish the fire.

The fire is quickly controlled as Fire Marshal Kemery and Firefighter Joe Kaighn prepare to move in to force open the engine cover.  

Firefighter Kaighn forces open the engine cover with the hand operated hydraulic spreaders carried on E-841.

On Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at 1630 hours, Rescue 846 (with 6 personnel) , along with Camden County Field Comm 2, Ladder 114 (Audubon), Engine 753 (Runnemede), and Rescue Engine 325 were requested to respond to the quarters of Gloucester County Station 7-3 (Westville) for a Task Force assignment.  Earlier in the day, a gasoline tanker carrying 6000+ gallons of product had been involved in a MVC rollover and had spilled approximately 2500 gallons in Greenwich township.  Due to the heat and labor intensive nature of this incident, many companies from Gloucester County had been called in to assist in the containment and cleanup of the spill therefore, leaving their locals covered with minimal staffing.  This task force, was one of two, and was covering most of the north end of the county.  While covering R-846 responded to the only call for service, a fractures call in Westville.  The task force stood down and returned at 2030.

On Saturday, July 16, 2005 , at 1131 hours, the Gloucester Township Police Department, along with the Gloucester Township Emergency Medical Alliance (Squad 805), were dispatched to East Church Street at Pennsylvania Avenue for a reported motor vehicle crash.  Upon the arrival of the police, it was determined that one of the occupants of this three vehicle crash was entrapped and the services of a rescue company would be required.  At 1134 hours Blackwood Fire Company (Rescue 84) and the Virtua Health Systems Mobile Intensive Care Unit (Medic 46), were added to the assignment.  Upon the arrival of Assistant Chief John Carlin (8402) one of the vehicles was observed resting against a utility pole (driver’s side) with damage to the passenger door which was preventing it from opening; no other entanglement was obvious.  Chief Carlin advised R-846 to proceed in and prepare to go into service for a door pop and removal.  R-846 arrived on location at 1140 hours.  With the removal of the passenger side door completed at 1144 hours, sufficient room was created for the safe and appropriate removal of the injured driver.  Fire department personnel assisted in the packaging of this patient and cleared the scene at 1157.  The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Gloucester Township Police.

Fire Department personnel stand-by to assist EMS personnel in packaging the patient.

On Thursday, July 6, 2005,  at 1630 Station 84 was dispatched on the "All Hands" box for 53 Fairmount in the Erial section of Gloucester Township.  TL-844 and E-842 responded in to assist with ventilation, salvage and overhaul of the one story, single family dwelling.  The fire reportedly started in the basement and was quickly brought under control by L-854.  Crews assisted on scene until 1802.

Fire Marshall Keith Kemery emerges from "C" division after checking the dwelling for extension