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Friday, jun 5
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Firefighting
Police & Fire
Wayne Pilot Captures Dramatic Footage Of 70-Acre West Milford Wildfire
A 90-acre wildfire is burning in Passaic County, and a local pilot captured it all (scroll for video). The fire, in the area of Clinton Road, is now 20% contained as of Wednesday, Sept. 3. Overnight, crews constructed containment lines and began backfire operations, officials said. No structures are threatened and no evacuations have been ordered. Clinton Road remains closed between Goldfinch Lane and Van Orden Road. Resources on scene include Forest Fire Service fire engines and ground crews. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Pilot Eric Sampson said he spotted the blaze shortl…
Police & Fire
2 Firefighters Injured, Cat Rescued From West Milford Blaze: Officials
Two firefighters were injured battling a house fire in West Milford on Saturday, Aug. 16, officials said. West Milford fire crews responded to a reported structure fire on Otterhole Road just before 10 a.m., where responders were met by heavy fire and smoke on the front of the home, the fire department said. Fire crews from Butler, Bloomingdale, Wanaque, Riverdale, and Pompton Lakes joined West Milford at the scene, officials said. Firefighters first went inside the home to fight the flames, but heavy smoke and intense heat forced them back outside, where they continued battling the fire, a…
Police & Fire
Sussex County Brothers Race Door-To-Door, Save Neighbors From Raging Pre-Dawn Fire
A fire tore through a home on Main Street in Franklin Borough early Wednesday, Aug. 13, leaving the structure unsalvageable, authorities said. The blaze broke out around 4 a.m. at 139 Main Street, Franklin Borough police said. Firefighters from Franklin and multiple surrounding towns responded, but the home could not be saved. All residents were evacuated safely, police said. None of the neighboring homes were affected, and no injuries were reported to residents or first responders. Neighbor Enrique Ojeda said the tense moments began around 3:40 a.m., when his son ran downstairs to wake hi…
Police & Fire
Decorated NYC Firefighter Killed In Hit-Run Motorcycle Crash
A decorated FDNY firefighter was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Manhattan. Matthew Goicochea, 31, was riding his motorcycle on the FDR Drive around 3:45 a.m. Thursday, July 25 when he collided with another vehicle and fell onto the roadway, according to police. A second vehicle then struck him before fleeing the scene. Goicochea was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests had been made as of Thursday evening. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or online. Goicochea joined the department in September 2022 …
Police & Fire
Man Snags Car Keys Off Bergen County Bar, Torches Stolen Ride: Prosecutor
A 60-year-old Hackensack man is facing a string of serious charges after police say he stole a car outside a bar in Garfield and intentionally set it on fire just a few blocks away. Troy R. Taylor was arrested on Friday, July 11, after police say he sparked a car fire in the early morning hours on Monroe Street, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a release Monday. At around 1:17 a.m., Garfield Police responded to a report of a stolen 2019 Honda Civic in the area. The owner told police they had placed their car keys on the bar inside a nearby tavern when they went missing, Musella…
Police & Fire
Video Shows Troopers Carry Woman Out Of Burning NY Apartment Amid Shooting Chaos
As fireworks lit up the sky above Albany’s Empire State Plaza, chaos erupted blocks away — and newly released bodycam footage reveals the harrowing moments when troopers sprinted toward the danger. The dramatic video, released Wednesday, July 9, by New York State Police, captures troopers charging into smoke-filled buildings and navigating flaming debris after a teenager was shot and a fire broke out during post-fireworks pandemonium near Madison Avenue and Swan Street. It all unfolded around 10 p.m. Friday July 4, when gunshots rang out near 337 Madison Avenue, just as crowds were dispersi…
Police & Fire
4,200-Acre Wildfire Forces Evacuations In Wharton State Forest, 5 Structures Threatened
A major wildfire burning in Wharton State Forest has scorched 4,200 acres and is now 40% contained, state officials said Saturday morning. The blaze, known as the Mines Spung Wildfire, is burning in the area of the Carranza Memorial in Shamong Township, Burlington County, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Evacuations have been ordered at the Phillip M. Costello Preparatory Academy and Lower Forge Campground. Officials said five structures are currently threatened. Crews are working aggressively using fire engines, bulldozers, helicopters, and ground crews to build firelines …
Police & Fire
PA Fire Chief Dies During Wildland Fire Training
A longtime Dauphin County fire chief died while mentoring fellow wildland firefighters in Cumberland County, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced on Friday, May 30. David Warfel, the current chief of the Carsonville Volunteer Fire Company and a beloved figure in Upper Dauphin County’s firefighting community, collapsed Thursday, May 29 at the DCNR’s Wildland Fire Academy hosted at Shippensburg University. Warfel was instructing and mentoring wildland firefighters during the training session when he passed away, DCNR officials said. He also served as th…
Police & Fire
Firefighter Stole $6.7K From Fire Company In Bergen County: Prosecutor
A 29-year-old firefighter has been charged with stealing more than $6,700 from a volunteer fire company account in Bergen County, authorities said Friday, May 23. Adrian Oceguera, of Weehawken, was arrested in Paramus on Thursday, May 22, 2025, following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Mark Musella said. On Jan. 6, the office’s Confidential Investigations Unit received information about an alleged theft tied to the Fairview Fire Department. An investigation revealed a series of unauthorized ATM withdrawals and purchases made between January 2023 a…
News
Bonfire Left Burning Sparked 15,000-Acre NJ Wildfire, 19-Year-Old Man Charged: Prosecutor
A 19-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with setting the massive wildfire that scorched 15,000 acres and destroyed a commercial building this week, officials announced. Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with the Tuesday, April 22 blaze, according to a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski. The fire was first spotted at 9:45 a.m. by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, which reported seeing smoke near Jones Roa…
Police & Fire
NJ Wildfire Explodes To 12,500 Acres: Latest From Forest Fire Service
An otherwise idyllic spring day along the New Jersey coast was darkened by thick plumes of smoke as a massive wildfire scorched through 12,500 acres — threatening homes, destroying property, and leaving thousands without power Wednesday, April 23. 🚨 A massive wildfire, dubbed the Jones Road Wildfire, is tearing through 1,200 acres in Barnegat Township’s Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, Ocean County, NJ, as of April 22, 2025, with 0% containment. Mandatory evacuations are underway for Wells Mills Road from Bryant… pic.twitter.com/61nPv8YRcH — Laszlo Varga (@LaszloRealtor) April 2…
Police & Fire
500-Acre Wildfire Burns Through South Jersey Wildlife Area: NJ Forest Fire Service
A wildfire spanning 500 acres is burning unchecked in a remote section of Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland, officials said. As of Friday afternoon, April 18, the fire was 0% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The wildfire was first detected at 12:24 p.m. by the Belleplain Fire Tower, authorities said. No structures are currently threatened, and no evacuations have been ordered, fire officials confirmed. Road closures include: Union Road between Route 49 and Mays Landing Road Bennetts Mill Road between Union Road and the Manumuskin River Resources on …
News
Southwest Flight’s Engine Catches Fire In Midair
A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to return to a Texas airport shortly after takeoff when its engine caught fire, prompting an emergency evacuation. The Boeing 737, which was en route to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, had to turn back to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport at approximately 11:45 a.m. local time Thursday, April 17, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. Upon landing, firefighters swiftly extinguished the blaze, along with a small grass fire that had ignited near the runway, according to authorities. No injuries were reported among the 134 passengers on board.&nbs…
News
Arsonist Sets PA Governor Josh Shapiro’s Residence On Fire
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate their residence as an arsonist set the governor’s residence ablaze while they slept overnight. The blaze broke out at 2 a.m. on Sunday, April 13, in North Front Street in the city of Harrisburg in Dauphin County. Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement they has confirmed that the fire was a deliberate act of arson. The alleged arsonist has since been identified and arrested, click here to read our full report. The Shapiro family was located in a different part of the mansion and was safely evacuated…
Obituaries
Funeral Set For Hero 'Cat Man,' Volunteer Police, Fireman Killed In Sanctuary Blaze
Funeral services are set for Christopher Arsenault, whose devotion to his feline friends right up until the very end has earned him admiration around the world. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home in Manhasset, according to his obituary. The service will be open to close friends and family only, but plans are underway for a larger public memorial in the near future. Lovingly known as "The Cat Man," Arsenault, 65, was killed early Monday, March 31, when a fire tore through his Medford home, which also served as the longtime headqu…
Police & Fire
Off-Duty Firefighter Saves Resident From Burning Wallington Apartment
An off-duty firefighter working at his day job next door ran into a burning apartment to save a trapped resident in Wallington on Wednesday, March 12, authorities said. Firefighter Robert Decker, a 20-year veteran of the Wallington Fire Department, was at work at Wallington Plumbing Supply when he saw smoke pouring from a nearby building at 108 Wallington Avenue, the police department said. At 3:18 p.m. on March 12, firefighters and police responded to a 911 call reporting a house fire, where they arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the kitchen, authorities said. Before emer…
Police & Fire
Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island
A massive wildfire that erupted Saturday afternoon, March 8 at the edge of the Hamptons has burned through over two miles of land, destroyed two structures, and sent one firefighter to the hospital, officials said. The fire, which started around 1 p.m. in Center Moriches, spread rapidly due to 35 mph winds, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at a Saturday evening news conference. The flames quickly moved to East Moriches, Eastport, and then Westhampton, igniting a massive blaze just north of Gabreski Airport, he said. On Saturday, all eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway were closed bet…
Police & Fire
Off-Duty Cops Rescue Guests From Burning Jersey Shore Motel
Three off-duty police officers sprang into action early Sunday morning, Feb. 23, pulling guests from a burning motel before firefighters arrived, authorities said. The fire broke out around 3:06 a.m. at a motel on the 200 block of Broadway, according to Point Pleasant Beach Police. The motel was identified in various reports as the Shore Point Motel. The off-duty officers happened to be passing by when they saw smoke and flames coming from the building. Recognizing the danger, they immediately began evacuating guests, moving them to safety before on-duty officers arrived, officials said. P…
Police & Fire
Wanted PA Arsonist Attacks FBI Agent During NJ SWAT Standoff: Officials
A York, PA man wanted for arson is facing attempted murder and other charges after a tense standoff with law enforcement in Bergen County, NJ, during which he wielded a pickaxe and attacked an FBI agent, authorities announced on Monday, Feb. 3. Tyre (Tyrie) R. Dunn, 36, was arrested on Monday, Jan. 27, after an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, led by Prosecutor Mark Musella, alongside the FBI and Lodi Police Department. Dunn, who was already wanted in Pennsylvania, fled from law enforcement and barricaded himself inside a shed attached to a private home on Stokes St…
News
New LA Wildfires Update: Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed
The number of confirmed deaths from six separate wildfires in the Los Angeles area has climbed to 16. The situation remains dire, with at least another 16 people still reported missing, and authorities anticipate that this number may increase as the search continues. The wildfires have destroyed 40,000 acres -- more than twice the size of Manhattan and almost the size of Washington, DC, while The creating apocalyptic scenes that seem straight from a horror movie. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed. A red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions through Wednesday, Jan.…
Obituaries
32-Year-Old Former Child Star Among Those Killed In LA Wildfires
A former child star and motivational speaker is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his family has confirmed. Click here for a new, updated story - Death Toll Hits 16, With 40,000 Acres, 12,000 Structures Destroyed Rory Sykes, 32, an Australian who gained media attention as a boy for sharing his experiences living with disabilities, died on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at his family’s estate in Malibu, his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in a post on X. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yeste…
Police & Fire
Downed Electrical Lines Found At Scene Of Passaic House Fire: Mayor
Firefighters battled frigid temps and a major fire that broke out at a Passaic home Tuesday, Jan. 7. Mayor Hector Lora live-streamed fire repression efforts at 5 p.m., and said a cause has not been identified however, downed electrical wires were found at the scene. Lora said 13 people escaped unharmed. Firefighters from across Bergen and Passaic counties were at the scene.
Police & Fire
1 Dead, Another Seriously Injured In Passaic New Year's Eve Fire
A tragic New Year’s Eve fire claimed the life of a 50-year-old woman and left another individual injured in Passaic, authorities said. The fire broke out at approximately 10:42 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, at an apartment building located at 361 Madison Street, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman, and Passaic Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost. The Passaic Fire Department extinguished the blaze, which investigators determined originated in a first-floor apartment. While battling the fire, crews discovered the body of a woman inside the…
Police & Fire
Residents Reflect On Life, Legacy Of Bound Brook Police Chief Who Died Of Cancer
The Bound Brook Police Department is mourning the loss of its chief, Richard S. Colombaroni, a lifelong resident and pillar of the community whose leadership and dedication over a 40-year career left an enduring impact. Chief Colombaroni passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer, the department announced Friday, Dec. 20. He was 62 years old. A true embodiment of duty and integrity, Colombaroni began his career in 1983 as a dispatcher before attending the Municipal Police Academy in Sea Girt. That same year, he officially joined the Bound Brook Police Department as a pa…
Police & Fire
Massive 3-Alarm Fire Erupts On NJ's Gingerbread Castle Road, Crews Battle Blaze For 12 Hours
Firefighters from across Sussex and Morris counties worked tirelessly for more than 12 hours Monday, Nov. 25 to extinguish a massive commercial structure fire. At approximately 2:00 am on Monday morning the Hamburg fire department was dispatched to Gingerbread Castle Road for a... Posted by Hamburg NJ Fire & Rescue on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Hamburg Fire Department responded to the blaze on Gingerbread Castle Road in Hamburg around 2 a.m., and quickly upgraded it to a 3-alarm fire due to its intensity. Mutual aid units from surrounding counties and the Sussex Coun…
Police & Fire
Jennings Creek Wildfire Update: Blaze Mostly Contained Week Later
After almost one whole week, the Jennings Creek Wildfire had been 75% contained on Thursday, Nov. 14, officials said. The wildfire continues to burn across Passaic County, NJ, and into Orange County, NY, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and New York Department of Environmental Conservation leading containment efforts. The fire has burned 2,283 acres in New Jersey. While no structures are currently threatened or evacuated in New Jersey, residents are advised to avoid the area. Road closures remain in effect on East Shore Road from Awosting Road to Greenwood Lake Turnpike, as well as B…
Police & Fire
West Milford Wildfire Swells To 3,500 Acres As Firefighters Battle Fierce Winds
The Jennings Creek Wildfire, now spanning 3,500 acres across Passaic County, NJ, and Orange County, NY, is only 20% contained, with strong winds and low humidity posing continued risks for rapid spread. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and New York’s Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management are working in unified command to strengthen containment lines in preparation for tomorrow’s forecasted weather. Firefighters focused efforts Tuesday, Nov. 12 on reinforcing the eastern containment line, using controlled burns to remove unburned pockets of fuel. Resources deployed…
Obituaries
Remembering Dariel Vasquez: 18-Year-Old HS Baseball Team Captain Killed In NY/NJ Wildfire
Shock and sadness spread following the death of 18-year-old firefighter Dariel Vasquez, who was killed on Saturday, Nov. 9, while bravely battling the Jennings Creek Wildfire that spread from New Jersey into Greenwood Lake, New York. Vasquez, a young Parks and Recreation Aide with the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department, lost his life in the line of duty, a heartbreaking end to a life full of promise and service. New York State Police are investigating the circumstances of his death. Known as a rising star in his community, Dariel was a former Ramapo High…
Police & Fire
Air Quality Levels Improve, 3,000-Acre Wildfire Still Raging In West Milford
A sprawling wildfire, now covering 3,000 acres, continues to burn through West Milford Monday, Nov. 11, however, air quality levels across the region have improved. The Jennings Creek Wildfire threatens 24 structures across both New Jersey and New York, including two homes in New Jersey, eight historic buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District, and 14 structures on East Shore Road in Greenwood Lake, NY, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. As of the latest update, the fire is only 10% contained, prompting officials to close East Shore and Beech Roads, along with all tr…
Police & Fire
2,500-Acre Jennings Creek Wildfire Continues To Burn, Cannonball 3 Wildfire Mostly Contained
A massive wildfire spanning 2,500 acres is burning through West Milford, NJ, and into Orange County, NY, threatening homes and historic sites as firefighters battle to contain it. Known as the Jennings Creek Wildfire, the blaze has put two residential buildings in New Jersey and 14 structures on East Shore Road in New York at risk, along with eight historic buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in the latest update Sunday morning, Nov. 10. Good Morning West Milford, Today Forest Fire will begin back burn operations in the …
Police & Fire
Dangerous Air Quality Levels Reported, New 1,800-Acre Wildfire Burns In West Milford
Three active wildfires in New Jersey are keeping firefighters busy this weekend as the air quality continues to worsen. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is working to contain fires in West Milford, Pompton Lakes, and Englewood Cliffs (scroll for details on each one). AirNow.gov shows an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 171, or unhealthy, across North Jersey, as of 7:30 p.m., caused by the smoke that blanketed the region. Click here to see an active AQI map or click here to check your town's AQI. Prolonged dry conditions, unseasonably warm temperatures, and strong winds have contribut…
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