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Police & Fire
Community Rallies Around Families Of Newark Firefighters Killed Community Rallies Around Families Of Newark Firefighters Killed
Community Rallies Around Families Of Newark Firefighters Killed Newark firefighters Augusto "Augie" Acabou and Wayne "Bear" Brooks made the ultimate sacrifice when they were killed battling a massive ship fire at Port Newark on Wednesday, July 5. Now, the community wants to give back. A fundraiser was created by the Newark Firefighters Union to assist the families of the two men killed. As of Monday, July 10, more than $104,000 has been raised.  "Augie and Bear served the city with bravery, courage, and honor," the union wrote on the fundraising page. "As a community, we can rally around their families, offer our support, and alleviate some of the …

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Two Firefighters Die Battling Huge Port Newark Ship Blaze Two Firefighters Die Battling Huge Port Newark Ship Blaze
Two Firefighters Die Battling Huge Port Newark Ship Blaze Two Newark firefighters died battling a blaze that tore through a car-carrying ship at Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal late Wednesday, officials confirmed. UPDATE: 'Hearts Are Broken': IDs Of Newark Firefighters Killed In Line Of Duty Released The firefighters had “made an attempt to extinguish the fire and, because of the intense heat, they got pushed back out of the area where the initial fire was,” Newark Fire Department Chief Rufus Jackson at a morning news conference on July 6. The Grande Costa D'Avorio apparently was headed to Brooklyn after leaving Baltimore on Sunday with mo…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
HEROES: Saddle River Police Sergeant, Officer Douse Growing House Fire HEROES: Saddle River Police Sergeant, Officer Douse Growing House Fire
Heroes: Saddle River Police Sergeant, Officer Douse Growing House Fire Smoke rolled out the front door as Saddle River Police Sgt. Diana Golonek and Officer Grant Novak arrived at a house fire just before midnight Thursday. The living-room blaze was beginning to cook, leaving the pair little time. Golonek emptied two fire extinguishers on the flames while Novak opened a garden hose he'd pulled through an open French door of the 5,000-square-foot house on tiny dead-ended Dogwood Drive late on June 28. Together, they beat back the flames and had the blaze knocked down by the time borough firefighters arrived. The residents got out OK and no injuries were repor…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
HIGH DRAMA: Photog Captures NJSP Rescue Of Clifton Firefighters From Passaic River HIGH DRAMA: Photog Captures NJSP Rescue Of Clifton Firefighters From Passaic River
High Drama: Photog Captures Njsp Rescue Of Clifton Firefighters From Passaic River Freelance photographer Boyd A. Loving captured the drama Wednesday afternoon as two Clifton firefighters were plucked from the Passaic River by a New Jersey State Police chopper after they'd gone in to rescue a construction crew. The three-member crew was clearing trees and brush from the river when their boat got snagged at the top of the Dundee Dam, which has a 20-foot drop to a lower section of the river below. Firefighters from Clifton, Garfield and Elmwood Park put boats into the river to rescue the trio. At some point, the Clifton boat began to tip over the side of the falls. A firef…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34 NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34
NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34 The Bayville Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of their own. Brian Letrent died suddenly of a medical condition on Wednesday, June 21, according to his obituary. He was 34 years old. A Toms River native, Brian was raised in Bayville and was a 2007 graduate of Central Regional High School. He enlisted in the US Army right after graduation and was deployed to Iraq for six months. From Mayor Carmen Amato. Our heartfelt condolences are with Brian Letrent and his family during this difficult time.... Posted by Berkeley Township on Thursday, June 22, 2023 Brian worked as a mechan…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Rutherford Attic Fire Doused Rutherford Attic Fire Doused
Rutherford Attic Fire Doused Firefighters quickly doused a house blaze Wednesday afternoon in Rutherford. The fire apparently broke out in the attic of a 2½-story, wood-frame home on Belford Avenue near Jackson Avenue around 1:30 p.m. Firefighters knocked the two-alarmer down in minutes and had it under control in well under a half hour. No injuries were reported. Damien Danis for DAILY VOICE Mutual aid responders at the scene or in coverage included firefighters from East Rutherford, Lyndhurst, North Arlington and Wallington. A preliminary cause wasn't immediately determined. Mutual aid responders at the sce…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Waldwick Firefighters Douse Train Trash Fire Waldwick Firefighters Douse Train Trash Fire
Waldwick Firefighters Douse Train Trash Fire Waldwick firefighters doused a train fire in a hopper car filled with trash. The firefighters kept the flames from spreading with a tower ladder, along with a hand line, after the call came in from near the train station shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 25. They had the fire doused in under a half hour. A Bergen County Hazardous Materials unit took water and air readings. No injuries were reported. A Bergen County Hazardous Materials unit took water and air readings.WALDWICK FD

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
IN CONTROL: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Gone, Officials Say IN CONTROL: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Gone, Officials Say
IN Control: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Threat Is Gone, Officials Say UPDATE: The wildfire that marched through West Milford the past three days is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on Saturday. The blaze, which was beaten back at first but then grew steadily over the previous 48 hours, finally topped out at 972 acres on April 15 – and that was it, the service said. Fire officials also said this would be the last of the updates from the “Kanouse Wildfire," the largest blaze in North Jersey since 2010. Ten structures in all were threatened – half of which were evacuated – yet none were seriously damaged thanks to the support of fire…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
GREAT NEWS: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Authorities Report GREAT NEWS: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Authorities Report
Great NEWS: North Jersey Wildfire 100% Contained, Authorities Report UPDATE: The worst is over: The wildfire that marched through West Milford the past three days is 100% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on Saturday. The blaze, which was beaten back at first but then grew steadily over the previous 48 hours, finally topped out at 972 acres on April 15 – and that was it, the service said. Fire officials also said this would be the last of the updates from the “Kanouse Wildfire," the largest blaze in North Jersey since 2010. Ten structures in all were threatened – half of which were evacuated – yet none were seriously damaged thanks to …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Fair Lawn House Fire Doused (PHOTOS) Fair Lawn House Fire Doused (PHOTOS)
Fair Lawn House Fire Doused (Photos) Firefighters made quick work of a blaze that broke out at a Fair Lawn home early Wednesday, April 5. Flames were spreading from the second floor of the Ruskin Road home to the attic when responders arrived around 7:40 a.m. The fire was under control at approximately 8 a.m. This is a developing story. Check back for more.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Firefighters Douse Overnight Freight Train Blaze In Maywood Firefighters Douse Overnight Freight Train Blaze In Maywood
Firefighters Douse Overnight Freight Train Blaze In Maywood A rolling dumpster fire of sorts was doused overnight in Maywood after a blaze ignited in a railroad car carrying construction debris and trash. Maywood Avenue was closed from Central to East Hunter Avenue after the train came to a stop, blocking the crossing, just after midnight Friday, March 17. Concern was initially expressed over a car purportedly carrying hazardous materials five or so car-lengths away, but firefighters contained the blaze. The train apparently passed through Elmwood Park and Saddle Brook with the flaming car before eventually stopping. It proceeded to the rail yard …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
'Very Close Call': House Collapses, 22 NYC Firefighters Injured In Staten Island Blaze 'Very Close Call': House Collapses, 22 NYC Firefighters Injured In Staten Island Blaze
'Very Close Call': House Collapses, 22 NYC Firefighters Injured In Staten Island Blaze UPDATE: A total of 22 New York City firefighters were injured – three of them seriously – while battling a blaze that collapsed part of a Staten Island home, the FDNY said Friday. The good news is that all are expected to survive. Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh called the incident a "very close call for the FDNY, which could have lost three members today."   A major collapse was reported minutes into the fire, which ignited in a 2½-story side-by-side duplex on Shotwell Avenue in the Arden Heights section shortly before 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17. The fire quickly went to four alarms, with multi…

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by Jerry DeMarco