While a large group of Fire District #1 officers and members were atending the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, the crew that remained in the district was treated to a steady stream of utility emergencies throughout the week and weekend.  Starting Wednesday night July 21, Station 26, along with the other Fire  District #1 companies responded to the following utility related runs

• Wednesday July 21 - Primary line down on fire, 500 Apgar Drive
• Friday July 23 - Gas line broken outside 200 Atrium Drive
• Friday July 23 - Primary line down causing brush fire, opposite 500 Atrium Drive with a serious exposure problem (ironically, the PSE&G storage facility)
• Saturday July 24 - Water leak from upstairs condo on Steeplechase Ct. impinging upon the electrical service of the downsatirs condo
• Sunday July 25 - Fire in the electrical panel of a Canterbury Circle residence
• Sunday July 25 - Hot air balloon tangled in the overhead primary lines located (ironically) just inside the New Jersey American Water Company Weston Canal Road water treatment plant

All of this along with a boat load of other runs while everyone was in Baltimore.  Great job Station 26 members during a hot week and our thanks to the other D1 companies for their hard work as well!

Franklin Township Fire District #1 was recently added to the Fire Department Safety Officers Association's honor roll.  The FDSOA is a national organization that provides pro board certification of safety officers.  Fire District #1 recently certified their 25th certified safety officer.  This makes our district one of only 22 fire departments nationwide that have received this honor.  Station 26 currently has 7 of the 25 certified safety officers in Fire District #1.

June 18, 2010 marks the third anniversary of the tragic fire that took the lives of 9 brother firefighters in Charleston SC. REST IN PEACE

Station 26 participated in the annual Franklin Township Memorial Day Parade honoring those who fought for our freedoms.

On Sunday, May 16 Station 26 members participated in the spring 2010 Fire District #1 live burn drill with the other fire district companies at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy.  The training focused on several different live burn scenarios, a rapid intervention scenario and a large scale incident command exercise for the D1 leadership.  The companies also drilled on the new Fire District #1 evacuation SOG.  The Station 26 members performed - as always - with distinction!

Great job guys!!!!

Station 26 and 56 were dispatched to 371 Campus Drive, Falcon Industries for a report of smoke coming from the rear of the building.  Car 26, Car 26B, Engine 26-3, Engine 26-1 and Haz Mat 26 responded.  Upon arrival the crew of E263 and DC Fredericks investigated the Divison C side of the building and discovered several liquid oxygen cylinders venting and creating a vapor cloud. Upon further investigation an odor of smoke was detected and light smoke was discovered from the rear bay door on Div. C.  OIC Chief Lipman requested a full district response and a RIT from station 27.  E261 dropped a supply line to E263 and a 2 1/2 line was stretched.  Crews forced the rear bay door and a heavy smoke condition was discovered throughout the building.  Interior crews discovered the fire in the back corner of the building involving a desk and other items.  The fire was extinguished without incident but the building required extensive ventilation.  The Franklin Township Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Station 26 put a new high expansion foam unit into service.  This new unit replaces a much smaller and older unit that was recently taken out of service.  Station 26 members trained with the new generator and as the pictures show, this unit puts out a large amount of foam in a short period period of time.

Our members and Ladder 26 assisted with the kick off of the 2010 Police Unity Tour.  The Unity Tour is a bike ride from Franklin Township to Washington DC to honor Police Officers killed in the line of duty.

District 1 Companies were dispatched to a mulch fire near a structure at 56 Boxgrove Place. Responding from another nearby mulch fire, 26-B and Engine 26-3 arrived within minutes of being dispatched. Upon investigation, crews found there wasn't a mulch fire, but items on a deck on fire with extension to the residence. With the help of the Franklin Township Fire Inspectors, the fire was extinguished with minor extension into the residence. Ladder 26 also responded and assisted with overhaul.

 Engine 26-3 and Car 26B responded on the Mutual Aid assignment into District 2's area  for the Natural Gas Line Rupture with Fire. Engine 3 operated as part of a water shuttle for a few hours while companies controlled exposure issues. The Crew from Engine 3 also assisted in extinguishing a brush fire that was caused by the extreme heat of the fire.

Click on picture for video link.

Haz Mat 26 and Engine 26-1 responded to New Brunswick Road for the 5 gallon container of acid that fell off a truck.  On arrival  members dressed in class B suits and  overpacked the container.  The overpack was turned over to Somerset County Haz Mat.

Station 26 members participated in the District 1 joint technical rescue drill on confined space operations this past weekend.  Ladder 26 members provided rigging, created the haul system used for the removal of the trapped occupants and managed the air monitoring portion of the exercise. 

Ladder 26, Engine 26-3, Car 26 and Car 26B responded with District #1 units to a structure fire at 1830 Easton Avenue. Upon arrival there was heavy fire venting from the basement windows of a two story multi-family dwelling. Units conducted searches, ventilated and performed overhaul.

A powerful Nor'easter hit the area during the weekend of March 13 dumping 6+ inches of rain throughout the area causing major flooding. Station 26 have responded to approximately 45 calls including fire alarms, water rescues, power lines down and de-watering assignments. Members from Station 26 also assisted the Borough of Bound Brook with pumping out basements of numerous buildings in the downtown area that were very hard hit by the storm.  Station 26 members have been operating on storm related calls for approximately 72 hours.

March 6th was the date of the 2010 Fire District #1 annual inspection.  Station 26 members spent the week preparing the firehouse, apparatus and equipment for inspection by the Board of Fire Commissioners and the Fire District #1 chiefs.  As always, Station 26 members impressed the Board with their professionalism and pride.  Captain Kowalsky, Firefighter Scott and Firefighter Grippo provided a demonstration of the RIT firefighter bailout systems put into service in Station 26 early last year.  Thanks to all of the members for their hard work this past week, and thanks to Harrington Construction for the construction of the bailout mockup.