Fair 34°
Police & Fire
Firefighter, Police Officer Recklessly Drove Fire Truck In Double-Fatal NJ Crash: Prosecutor Firefighter, Police Officer Recklessly Drove Fire Truck In Double-Fatal NJ Crash: Prosecutor
Firefighter, Police Officer Recklessly Drove Fire Truck In Double-Fatal NJ Crash: Prosecutor A 29-year-old firefighter and police officer from Camden County has been arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in the deaths of a Pine Hill man and woman, authorities said. On Thursday, July 28, John Gibson, of Lawnside, also was charged with operating a vehicle recklessly -- a fire truck -- in the deaths of 68-year-old John Bishop and 75-year-old Marie Endicott, they said. Gibson also was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, according to Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay. On Jan. 19, officers responded to a motor vehicle crash that occurre…

SHARE

by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Firefighter Injured During Central Jersey Hazmat Call (DEVELOPING) Firefighter Injured During Central Jersey Hazmat Call (DEVELOPING)
Firefighter Injured During Central Jersey Hazmat Call (Developing) A firefighter reportedly injured his arm during a hazardous materials call, according to developing and unconfirmed reports. It was not clear how the firefighter was hurt. A call came in before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15 at 140 Fieldcrest Ave. in Edison about a 53-foot trailer leaking hundreds of gallons of fluids. EMS crews had been called to assist the firefighter.  CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

SHARE

by Jon Craig
News
Authorities: Convicted Pyro Calls In Lyndhurst Car Fire, Waits For Responders, Lands In Jail Authorities: Convicted Pyro Calls In Lyndhurst Car Fire, Waits For Responders, Lands In Jail
Authorities: Convicted Pyro Calls In Lyndhurst Car Fire, Waits For Responders, Lands In Jail A paroled arsonist was waiting when firefighters in Lyndhurst responded to his call of an SUV fire. It didn’t take long for investigators to charge him with setting it. Christopher Baulch, 43, has an extensive criminal history that includes prison time served for torching two occupied Lyndhurst apartment buildings in 2000 – one on Christmas Eve, the other on New Year’s Eve – and then trying to play hero, records show. “In both cases, he went to help the people,” the sentencing judge in Hackensack said at the time. Baulch -- formerly of Lyndhurst and currently of Wayne – also has a chi…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Trenton Twins Killed In House Fire, Video Shows Neighbors Hugging As Building Burns Trenton Twins Killed In House Fire, Video Shows Neighbors Hugging As Building Burns
Trenton Twins Killed In House Fire, Video Shows Neighbors Hugging As Building Burns A pair of twin brothers were killed in a house fire that broke out Saturday night in Trenton. The three-alarm blaze at 834 Carteret Ave. broke out just before 7 p.m.  One firefighter suffered burns and three others were injured due to a collapse, officials said. The twins, who were 20 years old, were not identified. Footage posted to Facebook by Kion Pickett-Levell shows neighbors comforting each other as the building burns. “I am praying for this family who lost two sons tonight," Mayor W. Reed Gusciora said. "This is heartbreaking and we will do everything we can to support to get throu…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
HEROES: Paterson's Bravest Deliver Elmwood Park Newborn In Back Of Ambulance HEROES: Paterson's Bravest Deliver Elmwood Park Newborn In Back Of Ambulance
Heroes: Paterson's Bravest Deliver Elmwood Park Newborn In Back Of Ambulance An Elmwood Park newborn wasn't waiting as two Paterson firefighters tried to rush her mom to the hospital. So they pulled over. Parked on the side of the road, Silk City's bravest delivered a healthy baby girl in the back of their ambulance. Firefighters Craig Puglise and Jeffrey Wanco responded to the mutual aid call at the Elmwood Village Apartment Homes on the other side of the Passaic River call just after 7:30 a.m. They found the 22-year-old mom-to-be lying in bed with her boyfriend nearby, Paterson Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. Her contractions were three minutes apart…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
News
Firefighters Battle Blaze In Central Jersey Firefighters Battle Blaze In Central Jersey
Firefighters Battle Blaze In Central Jersey Firefighters were battling a house fire in Central Jersey, authorities said.  The fire broke out at about 9:45 a.m. at 208 Catherine St. in South Amboy, according to initial reports. An aerial ladder truck had to be used to help fight the two-alarm blaze, reports said. A firefighter was injured, according to an unconfirmed report.  CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

SHARE

by Jon Craig
Obituaries
Swatara Firefighter Mourned As 'Beautiful, Impactful' Swatara Firefighter Mourned As 'Beautiful, Impactful'
Swatara Firefighter Mourned As 'Beautiful, Impactful' A central Pennsylvania community is mourning the loss of a beloved firefighter. Carrie Ann Rafuse, 25, of Middletown, suddenly died on Wednesday, Oct. 13, according to her obituary. It is believed Rafuse was the firefighter who died by suicide on Oct. 13, although this has not been confirmed by officials.  Rafuse was a graduate of Northern York High School, Dillsburg and of Duquesne University, according to her obituary. She was a Logistic Management Specialist for USASAC at New Cumberland Army Depot and a volunteer firefighter with Swatara Township Fire Company, Station 49, Engine 91, …

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
News
PA Sailor Slapped On 9/11 By Cursing Woman In Viral TikTok Video PA Sailor Slapped On 9/11 By Cursing Woman In Viral TikTok Video
PA Sailor Slapped On 9/11 By Cursing Woman In Viral TikTok Video A sailor and fireman was slapped by an angry woman on Sept. 11 who thought he was faking his military status, as seen in a viral TikTok video. Harrisburg native, Sean Nolte Jr., was in his military uniform at Central Pizza in Berlin, Connecticut located at 96 Mill Street when an angry woman started shouting at his that he was disgracing the US military by wearing a fake uniform. Prior to the incident Nolte says he noticed the woman starring at him so when she first approached him, he tried to show her his military id card. “As she leaves, she looks at me and says ‘nice smile’ very sarcas…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
News
HEROES: Officer, Firefighter Save Life Of Junior Responder, 17, Critically Injured In Explosion HEROES: Officer, Firefighter Save Life Of Junior Responder, 17, Critically Injured In Explosion
Heroes: Officer, Firefighter Save Life Of Junior Responder, 17, Critically Injured In Explosion UPDATE: A firefighter and a police officer saved the life of a junior firefighter when he was critically injured in an explosion behind a Ridgefield Park restaurant, authorities said Monday.  The 17-year-old Ridgefield Park High School senior remained in stable but critical condition following several surgeries at Hackensack University Medical Center, they said. The junior firefighter, whose name was withheld because of his age, had completed a training exercise before the call came in at 2:12 p.m. Sunday, Fire Chief John Antola Jr. said. A fire had erupted in a makeshift wooden garbage b…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
News
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Garfield Fire Ravages Multi-Family, Mixed-Use Building PHOTOS/VIDEO: Garfield Fire Ravages Multi-Family, Mixed-Use Building
Photos/Video: Garfield Fire Ravages Multi-Family, Mixed-Use Building UPDATE: A firefighter sustained a minor injury during a blaze that ripped through a multi-family, mixed-use Garfield building late Friday into Saturday. The fire broke out shortly before 11:30 p.m. on the second floor of the three-story Maple Avenue building, which houses the Sud's City laundry on Palisade Avenue.  It quickly blew through the attic and roof, collapsing a rear portion of the building collapsed soon after. Utility wires briefly caught fire in the stubborn blaze, which was finally brought under control at 1:49 a.m. Jeff Stang produced up-close video: At the scene.JeffS…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
News
LAWSUIT: 65 Atlantic City Firefighters Exposed To COVID-19 Followed 'Ineffective' Approach LAWSUIT: 65 Atlantic City Firefighters Exposed To COVID-19 Followed 'Ineffective' Approach
Lawsuit: 65 Atlantic City Firefighters Exposed To Covid-19 Followed 'Ineffective' Approach The Atlantic City firefighters union has filed a lawsuit saying the city took an "ineffective approach" to handling the COVID-19 pandemic after 65 firefighters were exposed to the virus. The city arranged rapid tests for firefighters directly exposed to six others who tested positive, and instructed those who tested negative to return to work, according to the suit filed in Atlantic County Superior Court. Filed by Local 198, the suit calls the approach to handling the virus "ineffective," and " jeopardized the health and safety of all firefighters, their families, and the general publi…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Fire Destroys Abandoned Paterson Eastside Home Fire Destroys Abandoned Paterson Eastside Home
Fire Destroys Abandoned Paterson Eastside Home At least one firefighter was injured when a vacant home on Paterson's east side went up in flames Friday morning. The four-alarm blaze broke out around 9 a.m. in the abandoned, boarded-up building on Fair Street near Straight Street. It quickly consumed the upper floors of the 2½-story structure and eventually collapsed the roof. All visible flames were knocked down within 90 minutes as firefighters continued to douse hot spots. A demolition crew was summoned to raze the building. Among those providing mutual aid were firefighters from Clifton and Hawthorne. A firefighter was taken to St…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco