Medical Services Officer and EMS Training Officer Chrissy Oatman Presents at the New Jersey Statewide Conference on EMS

The New Jersey Statewide Conference on EMS was held November 12-14 in Atlantic City. This is a state-of-the-art conference designed to provide EMS personnel with educational opportunities that reflect current medical knowledge and practices that will enhance appropriate patient care and reinforce procedures critical to smooth and efficient on-scene operations.

During the conference, the CHFD announced our involvement and support for the education of the Rescue Task Force concept. Our Medical Services Officer and EMS Training Officer, Chrissy Oatman, in cooperation with Cooper Health System, presented and instructed Rescue Task Force concepts during the conference.

The Cherry Hill Fire and Police Department along with the EMS Medical Direction Staff from Cooper University Hospital are the first team to have an active Rescue Task Force in the State of NJ. These responders are trained to identify an escalated situation and are prepared to safely treat critically injured patients during high-risk events.

FIRE INSPECTOR JIM BIRD AWARDED CAMDEN COUNTY MILITARY SERVICE MEDAL FOR HONORABLE SERVICE

CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRE INSPECTOR JIM BIRD 

AWARDED CAMDEN COUNTY MILITARY SERVICE MEDAL FOR HONORABLE SERVICE

On Friday, November 7th, Fire Inspector Jim Bird was honored by the County of Camden with the Camden County Military Service Medal for Honorable Service. Fire Inspector Bird, along with 13 other Camden County veterans, were presented medals and proclamations at the Bancroft Veterans Day Observance held at the Cherry Hill Library.

In addition to more than 40 years of service in the Cherry Hill Fire Department, Fire Inspector Bird served 20 years in the military. He was a member of the United States Air Force (National Guard) during Operation Desert Storm. He entered active military service on November 13, 1968 and the National Guard on September 27, 1999 and retired after 20 years of service.   

 

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Chief Thomas Kolbe takes Oath of Office

On Wednesday, October 1st, the Cherry Hill Board of Fire Commissioners appointed Thomas Kolbe to the position of Fire Chief.

In attendance were family and friends, along with fellow fire officers and firefighters of the Cherry Hill Fire Department.   The evening began with an Invocation from Monsignor Michael Mannion followed by opening remarks from Commissioner Hugh H. "Skip" Gibson, IV and Mayor Chuck Cahn.

Cherry Hill Fire Department Honor Guard

Invocation by Monsignor Mannion 

Chief Thomas Kolbe taking Oath of Office

Chief Kolbe received his badge pinning from his son, Cherry Hill Firefighter Christopher Kolbe.

Chief Kolbe and his Family:
L to R: His daughter Sarah, his wife Marie and their 3 sons Jason, Chris, and Alex 

Chief Thomas E. Kolbe is a veteran of the Cherry Hill Fire Department with 29 years of service as a full‐time firefighter. Chief Kolbe started his fire service career in Cherry Hill at the age of 16 as a volunteer firefighter in 1977.

Prior to being hired as a full‐time Cherry Hill firefighter in 1986, he was a Federal Firefighter at the Naval Air & Engineering Center in Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 1995, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Training and Safety Division of the Department.  In 2000, Chief Kolbe became the Chief of the Training and Safety Division and in 2001 was appointed to the position of Assistant Fire Chief.

Fire Chief Kolbe has a BA in Fire Science/Public Safety Administration from Holy Family University, an AAS in Fire Science from Camden County College, has attained the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications for Fire Officer I and Fire Officer II and maintains Fire Official, Fire Instructor and Incident Management certifications from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

Fire Chief Kolbe and his wife Marie have 4 children Chris, Jason, Sarah and Alex and live in the Ashland section of Cherry Hill.

9.11.14 - September 11th, In Memoriam

“No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time”.

Thirteen years have passed since September 11, 2001 - a day most will always remember. Whether in New York City, or thousands of miles away, we all remember where we were and what we were doing the instant the news reached us. For the men and women of the Cherry Hill Fire Department, we also remember what it did to galvanize our resolve and commitment to providing our region with an emergency response, ready 24 hours a day, to meet any challenge before us.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to recognize that 13 years have gone by since so many victims lost their lives in the terrorist attacks, and so many of our colleagues made the ultimate sacrifice when they rushed into both World Trade Center towers to do what any of us would do. Equally, we recognize the continued commitment, dedication and ultimate devotion to public safety we witness every day by Firefighters, EMTs, Police and all emergency workers around the world, and especially here in America.

In 2014, as of September 8th, we have already lost 59 firefighters who have answered their last call and we recognize their service and sacrifice. Tragically, those 59 line of duty deaths put us once again on track to average about 100 firefighters lost each year. On March 26, 2014; we lost two Boston firefighters, and 13 more were injured, as they battled a 9-alarm fire on Beacon Street in a Back Bay brownstone style home. Their circumstances could happen to any of us on any given day and remind us to always be safe in what we do. 

In addition, we recognize the accomplishments of the thousands of military personnel who continue to fight for our freedom, the cost of which has come at a high price for them and their families.

We hope that you will take a minute to remember the efforts of those at Ground Zero 13 years ago, and know that the Cherry Hill Fire Department recognizes those efforts every day as we prepare and train, ensuring we are ready to respond to your emergency.