News

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 Today has been the busiest day for Branchville Volunteers in two years. Today's total runs so far at the time of this posting is up to 17 and I am sure will grow in the overnight hours do to the increasing wind conditions. Today's runs were brought upon the five or so inches of snow that blanketed the northern nj area from tuesday afternoon till the evening hours, then the half inch to 1 full inch of ice, and then the rain in the morning making for a frozen slushy mess. The write ups would take hours, so here's a quick overview of what we've been in the street for: 1 2 Pines Rd.- Tree and wires on fire 2 519 and Augusta Hill Rd.- Traffic detail 3 34 Wantage Ave - Activated fire alarm - Due to power outage 4 Plumer Rd- Tree and wires on fire 5 Rt. 206/ Union Tpk.- Motor Vehicle Accident 6 47 Philips Rd- Automatic Fire Alarm- Due to power outage 7 7 Mattison Ave.- Cellar Pump Out 8 98 Plains Rd.- Smoke in the residence 9 149 Plains Rd.- Tree and wires on fire 10 Upper North Shore/Orchard St.- Transformer Fire 11 34 Wantage Ave.- Automatic Fire Alarm 12 61 Bauer Rd- Cellar Pump Out 13 4 Fox Hill Rd.- Cellar Pump Out 14 15 Hemlock Rd.- CO alarm 15 8 Kemah Lake Rd.- Tree and wires on fire 16 171 E. Shore Culver Rd.- Cellar Pump Out 17 10 Main St.- Cellar Pump Out These are the official calls for the day, but many other public assist calls were handled by other crews at the station.
     
     January 2008 has been by far the most eventful month seen here in many years, running multiple serious incidents, including two house fires, a few almost's, and some serious car wrecks. I will try to recap some of the more serious incidents, due to the large call volume. The last 24 hours have kept the volunteers at Branchville Hose Company 1 quite busy. At 7:45 am on Friday January 4, units were alerted to a MVA with injuries involving a vehicle into a pole in the area of 29 Fox Hill Rd. Engine 654 responded along with Frankford Chief 2 (Pumphrey) and Frankford Rescue 2. Units were unable to find the accident and checked some adjacent roads. Frankford C2 had fire center 800 alert Lafayette Fire Dept. to check Fox Hill Road in their township. Lafayette units were able to confirm that it was in their town, and Branchville units were placed in service. At 2:00 pm Branchville and Frankford units were alerted to 3 First St. for a kitchen fire. Branchville Chief 1 (Frato) responded along with Ladder 652 and Engine 654. Units arrived on location with a single story residential of ordinary construction with light smoke showing. Units investigated to find a fire contained in the oven. The cause of the fire, through investigation, was ignition of oven cleaner when the oven was set to self clean by the homeowner. Units checked for extension and went in service. At 2:22 am on January 5, units were alerted to the scene of an MVA involving a vehicle into a telephone pole with entrapment and fire. Units responding found the entire borough without power. After manually opening the doors, Engine 654 and Engine 651 responded to find a vehicle into a pole with minor entrapment and no fire. The crew from engine 654 stretched a protection 1 3/4" hand line as Frankford Rescue 1 arrived and started the extrication. Units remained on scene for clean up, and went in service at 3:25. Branchville volunteers have kept busy over the first month of the new year, running numerous accidents, including a three car mva with entrapment and a fly out, a few "almost's", and multiple working fires. Today did not disappoint. At 11:09 am on January 29th, Branchville and Frankford units were alerted to a possible structure fire at 6 First street called in by a passing motorist. Branchville Truck 652 and Chief 1 (Frato) arrived on location shortly after and confirmed the working fire in a single family dwelling of ordinary construction. Frankford fire crews arriving just after Truck 652 stretched the initial attack line and put a knock on the fire, which was contained to contents to the bedroom and bathroom area. Units from Branchville and Frankford then proceeded to open up the bedroom and bathroom areas to find more hidden pockets of fire in the walls and ceilings. After those pockets of fire were extinguished, crews finished opening up and went ready at 15:50 hrs. Mutual aid assistance was called from Hampton Fire Department, Newton Fire Department, Montague Fire Department, Beemerville Fire Department, Lafayette Fire Department, Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, and Hampton EMS. The fire is currently being investigated by the New Jersey State Police, and the Sussex County Prosecutors Office. Coincidentally, this fire took place directly across the street from the kitchen fire on 3 First Street on January 4th. well that's the better action from january, the january 12 credits go to Dave Korver, of the hampton fire dept, for doing a great write up and for providing me with some great photos, and the others came from my 1st Responder write ups.