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Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Fire Chief Airlifted After Crashing While Returning From Call Jersey Shore Fire Chief Airlifted After Crashing While Returning From Call
Jersey Shore Fire Chief Airlifted After Crashing While Returning From Call A 43-year-old volunteer firefighter was airlifted to the hospital after his vehicle struck a utility pole and went airborne while returning from a call in Ocean County, authorities said. Brian Flanagan, a chief with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, drifted off the road while heading west on County Route 571 around 10 p.m. in Manchester on Tuesday, Nov. 22, local police said. Flanagan's vehicle, a Ridgeway fire vehicle, struck the pole before going airborne, pulling down a wire from a nearby home and coming to rest on its left side. One of the wires struck another fire vehicle th…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Cancer Claims Life Of North Jersey Fireman, Devoted Dad Hours After Promotion To Lieutenant, 35 Cancer Claims Life Of North Jersey Fireman, Devoted Dad Hours After Promotion To Lieutenant, 35
Cancer Claims Life Of North Jersey Fireman, Devoted Dad Hours After Promotion To Lieutenant, 35 North Jersey firefighter and devoted father of three William Garcia died of cancer on Friday, Oct. 28 — just hours after he was promoted to lieutenant. He was 35. Born in Teaneck, William was raised in Moonachie before his family moved to Pequannock when he was 11, according to a GoFundMe launched in February 2021 that raised upward of $100,000 as he underwent rigorous treatments after his initial diagnosis. William was known as a skilled athlete in football and track and field and was even considered an all-star baseball player. In college, William played rugby and participated as the ou…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Always On Duty: East Rutherford Firefighters Revive Unconscious Driver In NYC Crash Always On Duty: East Rutherford Firefighters Revive Unconscious Driver In NYC Crash
Always On Duty: East Rutherford Firefighters Revive Unconscious Driver In NYC Crash HEROES: A trio of East Rutherford firefighters were headed home following a department-related trip when they found themselves needed during an emergency in Manhattan. Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Griffin, Capt. Kyle Torres and Firefighter Joshua Novello had just touched down at LaGuardia Airport following a pre-construction visit to the Ohio-based Sutphen Corporation, which is producing a new tower ladder for the department. East Rutherford's bravest were headed up the Harlem River Drive toward the George Washington Bridge when motorists flagged them down. The trio found an unconsciou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Fire Doused At Lodi Tire Shop Next To Site Of Blaze Just Last Month Fire Doused At Lodi Tire Shop Next To Site Of Blaze Just Last Month
Fire Doused At Lodi Tire Shop Next To Site Of Blaze Just Last Month PHOTOS: Firefighters doused a stubborn morning blaze in a Lodi tire shop located next to an auto repair business struck by fire less than a month ago. Lodi's bravest had to open the truss roof to get to the source of the fire, which broke out at J & J Tires & Wheels on Union Street around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1. They had it knocked down within 45 minutes. The fire broke out at J & J Tires & Wheels on Union Street in Lodi around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.Tony Greco A firefighter was treated for a minor injury in the two-alarm blaze, which went to three bells for m…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
2 Hurt, Dozens More Relocated As Massive 3-Alarm Fire Ravages Newark Home 2 Hurt, Dozens More Relocated As Massive 3-Alarm Fire Ravages Newark Home
2 Hurt, Dozens More Relocated As Massive 3-Alarm Fire Ravages Newark Home Two people were hurt and dozens more relocated as a massive three-alarm fire ravaged a Newark home Thursday morning, authorities said. More than 100 firefighters responded to 390 Lincoln Ave. as the blaze was reported just after 11:15 a.m., Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara said. A third alarm was called about 10 minutes later as the fire started spreading from the two-and-a-half-story wooden-framed home to two neighboring homes, O’Hara said. A Newark firefighter was taken to St. Barnabas Medical Center for treatment of facial burns, authorities said. Meanwhile, a woman at on…

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by Valerie Musson
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…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Firefighters Free Driver In Englewood Crash Firefighters Free Driver In Englewood Crash
Firefighters Free Driver In Englewood Crash Englewood firefighters extricated the driver of an SUV that hit a parked vehicle and landed on its side. The Honda CRV coincidentally struck another CRV before topping on Van Nostrand Avenue between Broad and Grand avenues just off westbound Route 4 around 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 25. The driver was checked out and cleared by EMS.

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Firefighter Injured In Hackensack Condo Building Blaze Firefighter Injured In Hackensack Condo Building Blaze
Firefighter Injured In Hackensack Condo Building Blaze A firefighter was treated for a cut on his hand in a blaze that blew through the roof of a condo building in Hackensack. The fire broke out in a cockloft and spread to several units of the Atlantic Court Condominiums at the corner of State and Atlantic streets shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 20, Hackensack fire officials said. All of the residents got out safely, they said. Firefighters had the main body of the two-alarm blaze knocked down in about 45 minutes. Mutual aid responders included firefighters from Bergenfield, Bogota, Englewood and Ridgefield Park. Flames through the…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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, …

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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…

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by Jillian Pikora