CHFD RESPONDS TO HADDONFIELD FOR A DWELLING FIRE

On Wednesday, January 21st, B Platoon Firefighters from Ladder 24, Squad 13 and Safety Officer 1308 were dispatched to assist with the Haddonfield Fire Company for a dwelling fire.

Haddon Heights, Barrington and Westmont Fire Departments were also on location. The companies utilized a dry chemical extinguisher to keep the fire in check until PSE & G arrived to terminate power. The fire involved the exterior of the dwelling in the area of the electrical service to the home. 

Foam Tender 13 was special called as well to provide dry chemical extinguishing capabilities if needed. 

No injuries were reported and the fire was contained to the exterior of the home.

Photos Courtesy of Fire Photographer John Axford

Ice Rescue Training

On, Tuesday, January 20th, Battalion 13 - Jason Houck, C Platoon Firefighters from Rescue 13 and Firefighters from the Mount Laurel Fire Department conducted training on "Ice Rescue Techniques" as part of their monthly training.

These firefighters train to safely and effectively respond to incidents on or through the ice. Safety Officer BC Gaeta and Training Officer Lt. Tharp were also on location assisting with the training.  

The window of opportunity to perform a successful ice rescue is fairly small. If no one sees the victim fall through the ice, the chance of successfully rescuing them isn't very great. In just a few minutes, people can lose the ability to grasp and hold onto the ice. Eventually, they lose the ability to speak clearly and become weak.

Photo Courtesy of FF Steve Kinky

Photo Courtesy of FF Jake Speas

Photo Courtesy of Mt. Laurel FF Daniel Butkovic

Photo Courtesy of FF Jake Speas 

HAZARD RECOGNITION TRAINING

During the week of January 12th, all CHFD Firefighters were presented with hazard recognition training. This program was designed to hone critical fire ground size-up skills, including fire behavior, smoke recognition, building construction, situational awareness, mayday/urgent message transmissions, and self-rescue procedures.

The CHFD welcomed two renowned fire industry professionals to deliver this presentation. Both brought not only many years of urban firefighting experience, but also delivered their own personal "close call" stories.

FDNY Firefighter Eugene Stolowski and
Camden City Fire Department Captain Bryan Emenecker

Eugene Stolowski, a more than 20 year fire service vet, spent 12 Years with the FDNY assigned to Ladder 27 in the Bronx. In 2005 Stolowski was one of 6 firefighters forced to jump out of the fourth floor of a Bronx Tenement on what has become known as “Black Sunday”.

Bryan Emenecker, with more than 25 yrs of fire service experience, began his firefighting career in the CHFD and is a Captain with the City of Camden Fire Department. Through his career in Camden he has worked at Ladder Company 2, Rescue Company 1 (11yrs), Ladder Company 3, and is currently assigned to Squad Company 7. Emenecker was also involved in a fire in Camden where he and several other firefighters were forced to jump out of windows in a burning dwelling due do rapidly changing conditions.

The CHFD thanks both FF Stolowski and Capt. Emenecker for sharing their wealth of experience and invaluable stories, as well as Mount Laurel Fire Department for joining us in the audience.

Firefighter Stolowski shares his personal "Black Sunday" story

The window Firefighter Stolowski was forced to jump from

CHFD RESPONDS TO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT LATE MONDAY EVENING

Just before midnight, Monday, January 12th, Cherry Hill Fire Department and Mount Laurel Fire Department units were dispatched to the southbound lanes of Interstate 295 in the area of mile marker 36.5 for a motor vehicle accident.

Battalion 13 (McGeady) arrived and identified a diesel fuel truck on its side with an active leak coming from the damaged tank. CHFD HazMat 13 as well as the HazMat Unit from Camden City Fire Department were dispatched to assist with the leaking fuel.

Firefighters and HazMat personnel stabilized the vehicle safely then initiated an operation to pump off the remaining fuel so the vehicle could be up righted and removed from the highway. After the pump off was completed, the incident scene was turned over to personnel from the Camden County Health Department for additional clean-up. 

The driver of the vehicle was treated and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

1.4.15 Man Rescued After Car Plunges Into Rain Swelled Creek on Route 38

On Sunday, January 4^th, in the early morning, Cherry Hill Emergency crews responded to a reported car off the roadway at Route 38 and Mill Road. The car was reported as submerged with the driver standing on top of the vehicle. CHFD crews lowered a personal flotation vest to the victim and then removed him using extended ground ladders from the nearest bank. The victim was checked for injuries by CHFD EMS personnel and transported to a local emergency department. The accident is under investigation by Cherry Hill Police.

Later in the day, Firefighters returned to the scene to assist the tow company by securing the vehicle to remove it. Firefighters treated this opportunity as a training exercise for their cold water rescue operations.