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Police & Fire
Homeless Man Assaults Newark Fire Captain With Food Can Homeless Man Assaults Newark Fire Captain With Food Can
Homeless Man Assaults Newark Fire Captain With Food Can A Newark fire captain putting out a fire at a homeless encampment was hospitalized after a homeless man struck him with a can of food, city officials said. The firefighters had just finished putting out the blaze under Route 21 at Riverside Avenue when the man struck the captain with the can around 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, a statement reads. The captain was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and the homeless man was arrested, and taken to the hospital for crisis evaluation.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'We Lost A Hero': Aneurysm Takes Beloved Bergen Educator, Firefighter, Church Music Leader, 49 'We Lost A Hero': Aneurysm Takes Beloved Bergen Educator, Firefighter, Church Music Leader, 49
'We Lost A Hero': Aneurysm Takes Beloved Bergen Educator, Firefighter, Church Music Leader, 49 Death came suddenly and without warning for beloved educator, firefighter and church music director Basil Pizzuto of Saddle Brook, leaving legions who knew him shocked, saddened and more than a bit shaken. Pizzuto, an assistant principal at Ridgewood High School, was at work when an aortic aneurysm struck on Wednesday, Nov. 23, a day before he and loved ones had expected to celebrate both Thanksgiving and his 50th birthday. It was a gut punch that spread through multiple communities of those who knew and loved Pizzuto -- from the village's public schools to the Saddle Brook Fire Department …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
UPDATE: No Hydrants Hampers Fight Against Upper Saddle River Mansion Fire At Rockland Border UPDATE: No Hydrants Hampers Fight Against Upper Saddle River Mansion Fire At Rockland Border
Update: No Hydrants Hampers Fight Against Upper Saddle River Mansion Fire At Rockland Border Nearly three dozen mutual aid companies and well over 100 firefighters helped counter a lack of area hydrants as a fast-moving blaze consumed an Upper Saddle River mansion at the Rockland County border over the weekend. No one was injured in the multi-alarm Hillside Avenue blaze, which broke out in the $2.7 million home in the north end of town shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, and instantly became fully involved, fire officials said. Authorities were investigating the cause. The Upper Saddle River mansion on Hillside Avenue was destroyed.UPPER SADDLE RIVER FIRE DEPT Firefighter…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
UPDATE: Firefighter Charged In Horrific 9W Crash Later Returned To Scene As Responder UPDATE: Firefighter Charged In Horrific 9W Crash Later Returned To Scene As Responder
Update: Firefighter Charged In Horrific 9W Crash Later Returned To Scene As Responder UPDATE: A volunteer firefighter charged in a horrific road-rage crash that nearly killed a fellow group of fellow Bergen County teens earlier this week left the scene and then returned as a responder, authorities said. Luke Stein, 18, who was taken into custody in Colorado on Friday, Oct. 14, became a volunteer firefighter in Alpine and Demarest earlier this year, records show.  He was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee with blue and white emergency lights on the dashboard when he pursued and then deliberately rear-ended the victims' Honda Pilot on Route 9W just after midnight on Monday, Oct. 1…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Firefighter Who Teaches High-Angle Rescue Helps Save Severely Injured Worker In Fair Lawn Tree Firefighter Who Teaches High-Angle Rescue Helps Save Severely Injured Worker In Fair Lawn Tree
Firefighter Who Teaches High-Angle Rescue Helps Save Severely Injured Worker In Fair Lawn Tree A firefighter with just the right experience helped rescue a tree trimmer who was left perilously perched in the air in Fair Lawn after a cut limb from an oak broke his leg, responders said. Firefighters couldn't get to the 42-year-old arborist from Hackensack with an aerial ladder after the mishap left him stranded on an unsteady limb 20 to 30 feet above the backyard of an Ellington Road home shortly before 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. They had to use ground ladders and ropes instead. "Coincidentally, while on his way to teach rope rescue for hostage negotiation, off-duty FF Steven Alvarez…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
VIDEO: Fire Crews Kick Down Door To Reach Smoky Blaze Ravaging Morris County Basement VIDEO: Fire Crews Kick Down Door To Reach Smoky Blaze Ravaging Morris County Basement
Video: Fire Crews Kick Down Door To Reach Smoky Blaze Ravaging Morris County Basement The action-packed moment when several Morris County firefighters kicked down a doorway — hoses in hand — to reach and begin extinguishing a smoky basement blaze was captured in a video clip from the department's "helmet cam." The Boonton Fire Department responded to the report of smoke coming from a Mountain Lakes home around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, the squad said. Upon arrival, crews confirmed a fire in the basement and with heavy smoke billowing from the garage and the ‘D’ side of the home, the department said. Crews immediately went to work, kicking down the basement door to ga…

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by Valerie Musson
News
House Fire Doused In Teaneck House Fire Doused In Teaneck
House Fire Doused In Teaneck Firefighters doused a house blaze in Teaneck. They were met by heavy flames on the first floor and in the walls of the 2½-story wood-frame home on Downing Street just off Victoria Road shortly before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. The main body of the fire was knocked down within 15 minutes. It was declared under control a short time later. Mutual aid responders at the scene or in coverage included firefighters from Bogota, Englewood, Hackensack and Rigefield Park. No injuries were reported. Fire officials were trying to officially determine the cause.

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
UPDATE: Firefighter Burned In Haledon Blaze UPDATE: Firefighter Burned In Haledon Blaze
Update: Firefighter Burned In Haledon Blaze A firefighter was hospitalized with minor leg burns during a blaze that ravaged a multi-family Haledon home, authorities said. Another firefighter was evaluated for exhaustion and released at the scene of the three-alarm blaze at the corner of Henry and Legion streets. Firefighters found heavy flames on the second floor of the 2½-story, wood-frame building shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. Haledon firefighters found heavy flames on the second floor of the 2½-story, wood-frame building at the corner of Henry and Legion streets shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3.HALEDON FD Th…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Obituaries
Jersey Shore Fire Chief Tim Pfleger Dies, 32 Jersey Shore Fire Chief Tim Pfleger Dies, 32
Jersey Shore Fire Chief Tim Pfleger Dies, 32 A Jersey Shore fire department is mourning the loss of their chief. Keyport Fire Department Chief Tim Pfleger, 32, died over the weekend, the department announced on Facebook. Pfleger had been hurt in an accident returning from the fire academy in July, NJ Advance Media reports. Pfleger joined the department as a cadet in 2007. The following year, he joined Keyport Fire Patrol, having served as a lieutenant and captain. In 2019, Pfleger was elected as the Third Assistant Chief of the Department. He served two more years as an Assistant Chief until he was elected as the 2022 Chief of Depart…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Overnight House Fire Knocked In Upper Saddle River Overnight House Fire Knocked In Upper Saddle River
Overnight House Fire Knocked In Upper Saddle River Firefighters doused a pre-dawn house blaze Thursday in Upper Saddle River. The fire broke out on Fawnhill Road shortly before 4 a.m. and was quickly brought under control, responders said. Mutual aid responders included borough police and firefighters from Mahwah and Saddle River. Two ambulances and a Valley Health System paramedic unit also responded, although no serious injuries were reported. The Upper Saddle River Fire Prevention Bureau was investigating the cause, which the department said doesn't appear suspicious. ****** ALSO SEE: Firefighters battled heat exhaustion along with …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Fire Rips Through Hoboken Building Fire Rips Through Hoboken Building
Fire Rips Through Hoboken Building Temps hovered just over 90 degrees as firefighters worked to knock down a blaze that tore through a Hoboken building Monday, Aug. 8. The fire broke out at 324 Madison St., and was under control just before 4 p.m. The @HobokenFire , @HobokenPD @HobokenOEM @HobokenVol_EMS are on scene of a fire on 300 block of Madison. Fire knocked down pretty fast by HFD under command of Chief Peskens & BC Cassesa. JCFD on scene to assist. pic.twitter.com/XDnWCRVtzM — Chief Ken Ferrante, Ret. (@KenFerrante) August 8, 2022 The blaze was called in as a deck fire on the third floor, according to initia…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Firefighters Battle Smoky Attic Blaze In Hunterdon County Firefighters Battle Smoky Attic Blaze In Hunterdon County
Firefighters Battle Smoky Attic Blaze In Hunterdon County Firefighters made quick work of an attic that went up in flames in Hunterdon County over the weekend. The Lebanon Township Fire Department responded to the blaze at a home on Silker Road around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, the squad said. Upon arrival, the department confirmed a fire in the attic and had to open up the roof to gain access. The fire had started on the outside of the home before traveling to the attic, where it was still smoldering. Crews worked together to douse the fire about 25 minutes after initial dispatch. No injuries were reported. Assisting agencies include the Ca…

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by Valerie Musson