3rd Alarm Brush Fire - Penhorn Ave / NJTPK - 4/29/2006 @ 14:26 hrs

Engines 3 & 4 were dispatched to a report of a brush fire near Penhorn Avenue and the turnpike. Upon arrival Engine 4 requested an additonal Engines to the scene. Deputy Chief Parisi arrived on the scene assuming command. Engines 1 & 2 were dispatched to respond to NJ Turnpike exit 15X.

Deputy 1 requested a second alarm for all remaining Secaucus Apparatus to respond & an engine (E-9) and truck (T-7) from Jersey City to standby for town coverage, & an engine from Rutherford to respond NJ Turnpike. Lack of water on the Turnpike and awaiting Mutual Aid from Rutherford Fire Department, Engine 1's crew had to halt fire fighting operations because of lack of water. Fire Conditions worsened and all firefighters backed away from the heat and flames. Rutherford Engine 2 arrived on the scene and fed Secaucus Engine 1 water. A third alarm was dispatched, 1 Engine from East Rutherford (E-2), 1 Engine from North Arlington, and an Engine from Carlstadt to respond to the fire.

N.J. Transit rail lines were shut down leading into the Secaucus Transfer Station where firefighters were operating, and the N.J. Turnpike was shut down in both directions due to poor visibility. Later, the southbound lanes were re-opened but the northbound lanes continued to be closed for fire apparatus. Numerous handlines and Secaucus Tower Co. 2’s tower ladder were used to suppress the tall flames. Fire units remained on the scene until after 5 p.m. knocking down hot spots

2nd Alarm Fire - Franklin Street -  3/7/2006 @ 23:30 hrs

Firefighters attempted to enter the front door but were forced back by the extreme heat and smoke. An elderly woman and her son were trapped on the second-floor. As engine members lined in, Firefighter Chris Snyder, of Rescue Co. 1, ascended a ground ladder from Engine 2’s rig and pulled the two victims out of the widow and down to safety.

As the fire spread up the walls to all floors, Chief of Department Raymond Cieciuch transmitted a second alarm bringing the remaining Secaucus companies to the scene for a total of four engines, two trucks and the rescue.

As firefighters opened up the peaked roof, fire vented out into the faces of the truckees. Numerous handlines were used, and members were evacuated out of the structure when Truck 1’s ladder pipe opened up into the vent holes. The heavy volume of fire was knocked down by 1 AM, but as firefighters continued to open up walls and ceilings, they found many pocked of deep seated fire until nearly 2 AM.

6th Alarm Fire - Meadowlands Pkwy - 8/16/2003 @ 23:19 hrs

1st Due Engine 4, pulled up to scene and requested a feed line continuing to line in. Reserve Engine 5 being used by Tower 2's crew dropped feed line to Engine 4 and began a primary search. Engine 1 being 3rd due pulled in front of the building setting up their aerial squirt and requested a feed line from Engine 3 which was the next Engine Company to the scene. Engine 2 went to the rear of building along with Rescue 1. Ladder 1 went to the north side of building setting up the arial.

Shortly after all Secaucus Companies were on the scene a 3rd alarm was requested by the Chief of the Department Walters. This dispatched 2 engines, 1 ladder truck & safety officer along with Battalion & Deputy Chiefs from Jersey City. Alarms 4 - 6 were transmitted requesting fire equipment from North Hudson Regional (engine, ladder, safety officer & Battalion Chief.) East Rutherford engine & Chief, Rutherford Ladder & Chief, & Bergen County Zone 1 Coordinator to the scene. Rutherford & East Rutherford also relocated equipment into the town to cover the empty fire houses in case of another fire.

Partial collapse occurred before the Fire Department arrived of the 3rd floor onto the 2nd floor. An interior attack was initially started until safety officers surveyed the damage. All interior firefighters, were ordered out of the structure. This prevented an interior attack on the fire floor. Portable Master streams were used due to the location of a park in front of the structure which hampered firefightering efforts to use ladder pipes or tower ladders as master streams. 

Live Burn Drill - Middlesex County Fire Academy - 10/26/02

Engine 1 & Tower 2 Members Conducted A Live Burn Drill At The  Middlesex County Fire Academy

2nd Alarm - Union City - 12/02/2001

At 4:29 hrs. Engine 1 (with a full crew of 7) and Car 1 were dispatch to a 2nd Alarm Assignment Mutual Aid Call to West & 10th Street in Union City. While enroute Engine 1 was redirected to a report of fire on 13th street between New York Avenue and Bergenline Avenue.

Upon arrival Engine 1 requested a 2nd Alarm but no units were available at that time due to other structure fires within the area. A primary and secondary search were impossible due to the buildings being fully involved. Engine 1 connected to the hydrant from the beginning of the block, stretched two 2 1/2 inch lines, portable deck gun, and 1 3/4 inch line, and the Fire Stix (remote controlled massive nozzle mounted on the tip of the ladder for defensive fire containment). Engine 1 firefighters could only work off of hydrant pressure due to low water pressure from the hydrant

North Hudson Regional Engine 10 arrive, hooked up to the hydrant and dropped an addional 4" feeder line to Secaucus Engine 1. Harrison Truck setup operations & Guttenburg Engine arrived on the scene to feed water to Harrison Truck Company in addition to operating a handline. Water pressure was extremely low due to the other structure fires in the area and was decided to protect the adjacent structures. Forty Minutes later 3 New York City Engines 5, 34 "The Pride of Hell's Kitchen", & (number unknown) arrived on the scene as well as New York City Tower Ladder 21 setting up operations.

New York City Firefighters assisted Secaucus Engine 1 Firefighters in the front of the structure as well as the rear side of the structures. There was a partial collapse into the 3 foot alley way to the right of the structure and were successful in protecting the structure on the right side of the Fire Building. This is the first time in history that the Secaucus Fire Department has worked directly with the New York City Fire Department in New Jersey.

North Hudson Engines 4 & 10 arrived to the scene after being released from other fires within the area.
Secaucus Fire fighters were released at approximately 8:30 am Sunday morning. A later investigation by fire officials found some type of an accelerant and is believed to be arson.