FIRE DISTRICT 3

                  NEWS 

August 26, 2008 - Stations 55, 56 & 57 were dispatched to a structure fire at a trailer being renovated at at Maple Lake Campground. First arriving unit 5705 with crew members Jason Zimmerman and Vincent Schwartz reported the fire knocked down and a smoke condition inside the trailer. Chief Ken Byrnes arrived shortly after and assumed Fire Command. Crews from 5511 arrived and assisted 5705 with salvage and overhaul of the trailer and checked for fire extension.  Fire Official  Frank McDonnell investigated and determined the fire was accidental in nature and the point of origin was the hot water heater pilot light assembly in contact with combustibles.

Night Out joins Jackson residents, service groups
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer Tri  Town News 8/14/08

The Jackson Mills Fire Company was a hit with the crowd. Youngsters — and some dads — were allowed to climb into the driver's seat of a vehicle and pretend they were on their way to save a family from a burning building.  Children had a chance to see how a fire extinguisher works and they were allowed to put out an activated live fire. The Jackson Volunteer First Aid Squad and Quality Medical Transport had ambulances on exhibit and demonstrated cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a variety of first aid techniques. Representatives of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) were on hand to explain the mission of the group. During specialized training, civilians learn how to respond to emergencies with first aid, trauma and rescue skills. CERT would supplement police and fire responses during a large-scale emergency. This year the New Jersey State Police joined the event, sending officers and equipment dealing with homeland security issues. "We are part of a chemical, biological, radiological vehicular unit," said Sgt. Mike Macintyre of the New Jersey State Police Hazmat response unit. "We go out and look for samples for evidence collection and testing in order to provide that kind of information." Macintyre pointed to an assortment of equipment that is used by the Hazmat response unit, including one piece that tests chemical agents.  "These are Level-A fully encapsulated [protective] suits that are worn [in potentially dangerous areas]," he said. "This is an air purifying respirator, which gives the wearer more time in [the suits] and these are chemical agent 256 kits to detect nerve agents."

New Jersey State Police Trooper Jeff Gauthier showed equipment that is used when dogs are trained as canine officers. A police dog was present for the event. Also on hand were members of the New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad, Technical Emergency and Mission Specialists, the New Jersey National Guard and the auxiliary police.  Prime Time Showband, a Rockland County, N.Y., band led by Billy Keenan, played dance music that kept people moving.  Information was also presented to guests by representatives of the Jackson Optimist Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Jackson-Plumsted Domestic Violence Response Team, the Jackson Academy of Taekwondo, the Jackson Fitness Center, Fancy Limos.com, and the Intrinsic Chiropractic Center.  Children's identification cards were being handled by Jackson police officers Joseph Oleksy and Burt Salisbury.

Dump Truck Overturns

Tuesday July 15, 2008- At approximately 15:40 hours Fire District firefighters located at the S Hope Chapel Firehouse (Sta.57) were dispatched to an overturned dump tuck at Jackson Asphalt located on South Hope Chapel Rd. Ladder 5705 lead by Company Officer Lt. Ed Moore with firefighters Jay Zimmerman and Vincent Schwartz responded. Upon arrival they found a dump truck on it's side leaking hydraulic fluid. The leaked was contained and haz- mat agencies were notified for clean-up. The driver was transported to the hospital by Quality EMS. Crews stood by while the truck was up righted. NJ DEP, Berkely Haz -Mat unit, OC Prosecutors office, Jackson OEM & Fire Safety Bureau were notified or responded.

Vehicle Extrication after Head-On Crash

Wednesday July 9, 2008- At approximately 09:24 Fire District 3 (Sta.55) firefighters were dispatched  head-on collision between two vehicles on Cooks Bridge Road, just south of Manhattan Street that sent three people including a toddler to the hospital after being extricated by District 3 (Sta.55) firefighters. Fire District 4 (Sta 54) firefighters stood by at Johnson Park on Kierych Memorial Dr., as they waited for medical helicopter to transport one person to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. Medics on scene canceled the medivac helicopter and  drove the victim instead. The initial investigation shows that one car crossed over the center line and struck the oncoming car head on. The injuries do not immediately appear life-threatening according to police officials. Jackson Police Traffic Safety is investigating and Quality EMS transported the victims to the Hospitals. 

Apartment Fire Sends One To Hospital Evacuates Tenants

Tuesday July 8,2008- At approximately 13:45 hours Stations 54, 55 & 57 were dispatched to a structure fire at the C-Building of Pineview Apartments on West County Line Rd. First arriving Chief Ken Byrnes reported a working fire in apartment C-13 with a victim with burn injuries to his face and hands. First arriving unit 5511 commanded by Co. Officer Lt. Gerard Moroney and his crew firefighters Howles, Hilger and Grossman stretched a handline to the apartment. Second due units 5505 with Co. Officer Lt. Schoch and his crew firefighters Stacy, Granado, Perotto & McLaughlin assisted with ventilation and fast team. Unit 5705 with acting Co Officer FF Zimmerman and his crew member firefighter Schwartz assisted with a water supply and back up fire lines. Fire Official McDonnell assisted with personnel accountability and fire investigation. 

The fire was located in the back bedroom and quickly knocked down. Fire crews checked for extension and ventilated the apartment. Firefighters also evacuated first and second floor apartments around the fire apartment as a precaution. The fire did not extend into the structural members of the building and was contained to the bedroom contents. The burn victim was a tenant of the apartment and was transported to Kimball Medical Center by Quality EMS for burns. Fire Investigation was conducted by Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety District 1 & 3 Fire Official McDonnell and Jackson Police Detective Scott Conover. The cause and origin is still under investigation.          

Plumbers Torch Ignites Condominium Fire 

Monday July 7, 2006- Stations 55 and 57 were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 103C Pleasant Drive in the Whitesville Section of town. 5705 arrived on scene and was informed by the maintenance manager that the fire had been extinguished. The maintenance manager was utilizing a plumbers torch to work on plumbing in the bathroom when the torch ignited exposed insulation and spread up behind the sheet rock wall. Firefighters verified that the fire was out and checked the pipe chase in the basement and attic of the building for any fire extension. The crew from 5705 also began providing EMS assistance to the resident of the apartment who was found experiencing respiratory distress. The maintenance manager, who was operating the torch, had burns to his lower legs. The resident of the apartment was treated on scene by MONOC Paramedics and transported to the hospital by Quality EMS. Crews operated in high temperatures both in the attic of the house and the outside air on this hot and humid day. The fire was found to have been extinguished by the maintenance manager utilizing an ABC fire extinguisher and a bucket of water.  Firefighters verified no extension into other parts of the building. The Ocean County Fire Marshal and Jackson Police also responded. This was the second fire related to a plumbers torch to start a fire at a condominium in the same district within a month.

Man Trapped Under Vehicle Rescued

Tue. 7/1/08 3pm- Firefighters from Fire Districts 1 & 3 (Sta. 55 & 57) responded to a Whitesville Road residence and extricated a 69-year-old township man who was trapped underneath his elevated pickup truck when it fell off its ramp onto him while he was working underneath. First due unit 5705 commanded by Lt Ed Moore and his crew FF Jay Zimmerman & Vinnie Schwartz hand lifted the vehicle off of the victim and pulled him out. They were assisted at the scene by the victims grandson who called 9-1-1 and Jackson Police Captain Newman and Sgt Geoghegan. Firefighter-EMT's, Quality EMS and Mon-OC Paramedics treated the victim and as a result of his serious injury to his chest, firefighters set up a landing zone at Christa McAulliffe Middle School as Mon-Oc One Medivac helicopter flew the man to Jersey Shore Regional Trauma Center for treatment of his injuries.

Plumbers Torch Ignites Fire at Condominiums

6/6/08- Stations 55 & 57 (District 1 and 3) were dispatched to a structure fire at a condominium residence at Primrose Lane at approximately 15:45 hours. Ladder 5705 commanded by Lt Moore was first due to arrive within 3 minutes of dispatch reporting a working fire in the crawlspace of the building. He immediately initiated a second alarm for Stations 54 and 56 (District 4 and 2) to assist. The crew of of 5705 Firefighters Zimmerman and Schwartz assisted Lt Moore in stretching a hand line to the crawlspace. The crew entered the the crawlspace and suppressed the remaining fire. Additional crews 5708 and 5505 arrived shortly on scene and assisted with mop up and ventilation of the crawlspace. Fire Official Frank McDonnell (18307) of Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety District 1 & 3 ruled the fire accidental when the Plumber used a torch to burn away spider webs under the crawlspace to service the HVAC unit  igniting the insulation. The fire was contained to the crawlspace insulation and no fire extension was found to the structure. The plumber assisted in knocking down the fire prior to fire units arriving on scene, sustaining minor injuries and smoke inhalation. He was treated at the scene and refused transportation to the hospital.  

Chimney Fire Extinguished

5/12/08  A reported chimney fire dispatched Stations 54, 55 and 57 to a Farmingdale Rd residence. First due Chief Lubertowski  (5400)  established command and reported a working chimney fire extending possibly into the the attic. Telesquirt 5505 with Co. Officer Lt Moroney (18340) arrived on scene shortly after command was established stretched a handline into the second floor in search of the attic access. 5705 with Co. Officer Lt Moore (18350) assisted 5505 with interior operations. 5405 arrived on scene and laddered the roof with its crew cutting access around the chimney to gain access to the fire. A handline was stretched to the roof and extinguished the fire that was confined to the chimney. Firefighters applied a salvage cover on the roof hole to keep the rain out and the interior to protect the contents from water damage during suppression operations. The attic area around the chimney and a 2nd floor bedroom suffered moderate damage as firefighters attempted to find the origin of the fire by cutting into the attic wall around the chimney and removing the bedroom ceiling into the attic. One volunteer firefighter was injured in a motor vehicle crash enroute to the firehouse, was transported to the hospital and released with a minor injury. Mutual aid for a tanker and R.I.T. team was requested from Freewood Acres Fire Co. Fire Official Frank McDonnell (18307) of Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety District 1 & 3 ruled the fire accidental with the origin starting in the chimney stack.   

Fire Extinguished by Homeowner

5/1/08  A quick thinking homeowner was able to knock down a fire that was confined to a bedroom entertainment unit and clothes cabinet. The homeowner located on Sunningdale Ct in Westlake Riviera called 911 when she saw fire coming from the cabinet storing her clothes. She was able to evacuate her husband from the house who was napping in the bedroom when the fire started called 911 and knocked down the fire with a fire extinguisher. Fire District firefighters arriving within 4 minutes of dispatch overhauled the unit and removed it from the residence. Fire Official Frank McDonnell of Jackson Bureau of Fire Safety District 1 & 3 ruled the fire accidental.    

Study will examine uniting fire districts
Jackson solicits firm to conduct first phase
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer Tri Town News
Jackson officials have taken the first step toward determining whether sharing services with or consolidating Jackson's fire districtsmight serve the community better than the present system of four separate fire districts. A legal notice published in a local daily newspaper last week is soliciting firms to bid on a job "to prepare a SHARE grant application and conduct a feasibility study to determine whether shared services and/or the consolidation of Jackson Township fire districts into one unified fire district will best serve the township." Proposals for the job will be submitted to the township, opened and read at 11 a.m.April 16.At present, Jackson is divided into four fire districts. Each district is served by a board of commissioners and a fire company. The operation of a fire district is supported by an assessment that appears on a property owner's property tax bill.

The 2007 tax rate in each fire district follows:

• Fire District 1 - 16 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $150,000 in Fire District 1 paid about $240 in fire district taxes in 2007. The owner of a home assessed at $250,000 in Fire District 1 paid about $400 in fire district taxes. The owner of a home assessed at $350,000 in Fire District 1 paid about $560 in fire district taxes.

• Fire District 2 - 10.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $150,000 in Fire District 2 paid about $151 in fire district taxes in 2007. The owner of a home assessed at $250,000 in Fire District 2 paid about $252 in fire district taxes. The owner of a home assessed at $350,000 in Fire District 2 paid about $353 in fire district taxes.

• Fire District 3 - 17.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $150,000 in Fire District 3 paid about $268 in fire district taxes in 2007. The owner of a home assessed at $250,000 in Fire District 3 paid about $447 in fire district taxes. The owner of a home assessed at $350,000 paid about $626.

• Fire District 4 - 14.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The owner of a home assessed at the average of $150,000 in District 4 paid about $211 in taxes in 2007. The owner of a home assessed at $250,000 paid about $352. The owner of a home assessed at $350,000 in District 4 paid about $493.

Township Administrator Phil Del Turco said Jackson is taking advantage of an opportunity provided by the state Department of Community Affairs to examine shared services and programs. The township is looking into shared services and programs with the school district. Del Turco said the process would be twofold: in the initial step, a feasibility study would be conducted to develop information about shared services or programs between two entities (i.e., the township and the fire districts). Pending those findings, shared services and/or programs could be implemented. Del Turco noted that in the present case involving the planned study of Jackson's fire districts, the township is not at the implementation stage. He said that during this process, "we will want to coordinate and communicate with the fire districts. That is critical."

District 3 Election Results

February 18th 2008- The budget for District 3 passed by a margin of 88 to 48.  Mr Jordan was elected to the position of Commissioner with 88 votes.  The incumbant Mr Logan had 32 votes and Mr Kalapos had 27 votes.The ballot question for the LOSAP program passed by a margin of 96 to 28.

House Fire

February 17, 2008

Early this morning stations 57 and 55 from Jackson Township were dispatched to the a residence on May Blvd for a reported structure with entrapment   Dispatch immediately notified Asst Chief Raush 5710 that there were numerous phone calls.  Lt K Fleming 5730 also advised the Chief he passed the house and it was a confirmed working fire.  On arrival of 5710 command was established and he requested Station 56 from Jackson, Station 63 Lakehurst Naval Base for a RIT team and Station 34 from Manchester .

Engine/Tanker 5708 arrived first due and immediately stretched two 1 ¾ attack line to the fire under the direction Operations Chief Smith 5500.  Asst Chief Fatovic assumed interior operations and assisted the first team in with knocking down the fire.  Engine 5521 laid a 5 inch attack line into 5708.  5521’s crew ventilated the roof of the structure and conducted a primary and secondary search of the resident which turned up only 4 cats which succumbed to the smoke.  It was determined that no one was in the structure and all residents were accounted for.   An aggressive interior attack was performed by the firefighters and the fire was extinguished.  Extensive overhaul had to be performed by the crews on scene.

JCP&L responded to the scene to cut power to the home along with the New Jersey Natural Gas Company.  The homeowner was checked by the Jackson First Aid squad and checked out ok.  The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature but is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office. 

Council awards EMS pact
Quality Medical Transport selected for daytime coverage

2/14/08  JACKSON- Township Council members have awarded an emergency medical services transport contract to Quality Medical Transport Inc., a Beachwood ambulance service. The contract was voted upon at the council's meeting on Feb. 11. Quality Medical Transport will serve the residents of Jackson during the daytime hours and the Jackson Volunteer First Aid Squad will continue to provide coverage during the evening and overnight hours. Quality Medical Transport will provide backup service for the volunteer first aid squad and will provide three ambulances instead of the two that were in town in the past.

There will be a 30-day clause in the contract which will allow Jackson officials to cancel the service if the firm cannot perform its duties. According to a proposal provided by the firm, Quality Medical Transport will collect for its services only from the insurance company of the patient and will work for free if the patient has no insurance coverage. Council members Scott Martin and Angelo Stallone and council President Ann Updegrave voted to award the contract to Quality Medical Transport.  Councilman Jason Gudaitis voted no.

Councilwoman Emily Ingram, who could not attend the Feb. 11 meeting due to a previous commitment, said her choice was to award the contract to QualityMedical Transport. Martin read a statement from Ingram in which the councilwoman said, "Emergency medical service is extremely vital to the health of Jackson residents and with proper internal control I believe QualityMedical Transport can provide efficient service. My request would be to have Quality Medical Transport submit monthly reports to the township administrator and to the selected ad-hoc committee detailing the response times as well as any issues that have occurred."

Ingram also asked that an executive from Quality Medical Transport attend a town meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss matters of concern with municipal officials and residents. During an earlier caucus meeting council members discussed the idea of naming an emergency medical services oversight committee that would consist of two or three residents and possibly an adviser from the Jackson Police Department and from the volunteer first aid squad who would oversee the provision of emergency medical services. In order to provide a permanent oversight committee the mayor would have to amend the administrative code, Updegrave said. She suggested two residents, Kenneth Bressi and Dennis Lafer, who could be on the committee with Gudaitis.

Gudaitis suggested a maximum of a five-member committee. Mayor Mark Seda recommended that the oversight committee should have access to Quality Medical Transport's response times. Township Attorney George Gilmore said he believes the committee should be permanent at this point. The oversight committee would have no real power except to observe the job being done by Quality Medical Transport and to advise municipal officials, he said. The council members did not vote on whether there will be an emergency medical services oversight committee. That decision may be made at a future meeting of the council. When comments from the public were taken resident John Walters said he was disappointed there was not more discussion about the alternatives. He recommended that the volunteer first aid squad remain in the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. slot because it strengthens the program for the squad's younger members.

"The township should support the first aid squad with more than $20,000," he said, adding that he favored having Quality Medical Transport provide the daytime coverage. Martin said he was asked by first aid squad officers to move the end time for coverage by the volunteer squad to 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. Martin voted to award the emergency medical services contract to QualityMedical Transport. He said he received positive recommendations about the firm. He noted that the firm has received several awards and will back up the first aid squad volunteers. Updegrave and Stallone also voted in favor of awarding the contract to Quality Medical Transport.

Gudaitis cast the only no vote and said he wanted an emergency medical services oversight committee in place.Updegrave said she visited the first aid squad and was pleased to say that Quality Medical Transport can provide Jackson with the services that are needed. The times that the first aid squad will provide coverage will have to be worked out with representatives of Quality Medical Transport and she said she believes that can be done. "I feel Quality Medical Transport deserves to be given a chance based on its background, its recommendations, its qualifications and its communication with the first aid squad," she said. No date was given for when Quality Medical Transport will take over daytime responses in the community. At the present time daytime responses in Jackson are provided by MONOC. Quality Medical Transport will provide what is referred to as Basic Life Support services when it is dispatched to a call. MONOC will continue to provide what is referred to as Advanced Life Support services when those services are required on a particular call for emergency medical services.The council declined to institute a municipal emergency services unit that would have operated under the auspices of the Jackson Police Department.

STRUCTURAL FIRE KNOCKED DOWN QUICKLY

2/7/08 -A working structure fire was knocked down quickly by Fire District No 3 firefighters. The dispatch came in around 12:05 pm Friday reporting a structure fire on N Hope Chapel Rd. District 3 Firefighters stationed at the S. Hope Chapel Firehouse (District 1) quickly responded along with the Fire Official who was also at the station. Fire Official Frank McDonnell was first due and reported fire coming from the B division of the ranch house. Firefighters Jay Zimmerman and Lt Ed Moore arriving shortly after with unit 5708 stretched 1-3/4 hand line to division B side. Neighbors reported that their maybe occupants home and entrapped. 

Fire Chief Ken Byrnes arrived and assumed Incident Command . Lt Moore prior to arrival of other incoming units, knowing there may be entrapment, by himself gained entry and  knocked down the fire in the kitchen area and did a quick search for the occupants as Firefighter Zimmerman operated the pump. Units 5511 and 5505 arrived soon after and assisted with suppression, accountability  and ventilation. The occupants were found not to be home at the time of the fire but 2 cats were missing in which a search by firefighters resulted in a negative find. There were no injuries to firefighters. The cause was investigated by Jackson Fire Official McDonnell, Ocean County Fire Marshals Office and Jackson Police Detective Scott Conover who determined the cause to be accidental and origin related to the dishwasher.   

Debate On EMS Services Ongoing
Meeting Planned January 23 To Discuss Options: Quality Medical Is Frontrunner
Jackson Times By Lauren Puglisi 1/11/08

The Jackson Township Council will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. on January 23 to discuss bringing a paid EMS service to town. The meeting will serve as a public forum for members of the community to learn about emergency medical service (EMS) options officials hope will benefit overall health and safety in Jackson. The intent, officials have stressed, is not to replace the township's volunteer first aid companies. Rather, it is to assist them by providing added emergency response service during hours when the volunteers have traditionally been understaffed. Councilman Scott Martin said the new service provider will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Whether the township will contract with an outside agency - two are currently on the table - or create its own EMS service is still under discussion. Mayor Mark Seda has suggested plans that would call for the town's current daytime EMS provider, MONOC (Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation), to be eliminated. Instead, a new community service officer under the auspice of the township Police Department would be created to oversee a new municipal emergency medical service, funded fully by the town.

If the township opts to contract with another provider, however, that plan may never come to fruition. On December 21, an ad-hoc subcommittee created to study the issue met with representatives from MONOC and Quality Medical, the two third-party services under consideration. Ken Bressi, a member of the committee, said the meeting brought residents from of all walks of life together to discuss EMS issues. One thing most agreed on: An in-house service is not the way to go. "All people in attendance commonly decided against starting a new in-house EMS service," Bressi said. However, Business Administrator Phil Del Turco said that the question of whether the township will provide EMS services on its own is still up in the air. "The purpose for this change is to ultimately improve response times within Jackson. The mayor's open-forum presentation will detail different emergency providers to the council and to the public of Jackson Township," Del Turco said. To the end of improving response times, Bressi said discussions will be ongoing. "Since response times have been such an issue in Jackson," Bressi said, "talks of putting a committee together to calculate the reasoning behind slow response times is an ongoing possibility. I think this way no one person will be blamed and emergency calls will be monitored on a continual basis."

Although there has yet to be a final decision made within the entire council, Martin has given his endorsement to Quality Medical. He said that if Quality is chosen as the township's EMS provider, there will be no charge to the town and at least three ambulances will be provided (more if needed) during the targeted time period. In contrast, MONOC would cost taxpayers up to $150,000 for their services, Martin said.  "After doing research and speaking with stellar Quality Medical references, this EMS provider appears to be the best service with no cost to the town," Martin said. "I am still open-minded to other service providers, which will be presented during the mayor's meeting, but the reason I am so impressed with Quality Medical is because they are willing to supply back-up services to the township's first aid volunteer squad."

The vote is still pending, but other council members have started to weigh in too. Councilwoman Emily Ingram said she has done research on both MONOC and Quality Medical, and feels that Quality Medical is a service that goes above and beyond other providers. "Jackson residents have major complaints about bettering EMS response times and my research has shown me that Quality Medial has guaranteed that they take pride in the fastest times," Ingram said. Although Martin, Ingram and other members of the ad-hoc committee are leaning towards Quality Medical, a final decision has not yet been made. This in part led to Seda's decision to hold a meeting detailing the use of three separate provider options. Seda announced at last Thursday's council meeting that he would be holding a meeting to outline the pros and cons of going with MONOC, Quality Medical or a townshiprun EMS service provider. Township Clerk Ann Marie Eden said during the course of the meeting, Seda will be available for questions from the public after giving a detailed presentation on EMS service providers. Seda said the governing body will be ready to go to a vote if all council members come to a consensus. Councilman Angelo Stallone agreed. "If the council feels comfortable to move forward with a new EMS provider after the mayor's presentation, we will," said Stallone. The mayor's EMS presentation will be held in the main auditorium at Jackson Liberty High School, 7 p.m. on January 23

1/9/08  Notice is hereby given that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12, the Township Council of Jackson Township will conduct a Special Township Council Meeting on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 as noted below:

Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Time 7:00 p.m. (Public Meeting/Mayor Seda’s presentation on EMS Services

Location: Jackson Liberty High School (Main Auditorium) 125 North Chapel Road Jackson, NJ 08527

Purpose: Mayor’s presentation on EMS Services. Formal action may be taken by the Township Council upon the conclusion of the Mayor’s presentation on EMS Services.

2007 NEWS ARCHIVE