INCIDENTS
These are some of the incidents the firefighters of Rochelle Heights have operated at.
4 ALARM ST MICHAELS CHURCH FIRE
At 11:47 AM, the Rochelle Heights Fire Dept. was dispatched to St Michael's Church on Rochelle Ave for a fire. When Engine 834 arrived on scene, they found heavy fire throughout the church and venting through the roof. With Truck 832 out of service due to mechanical issues, a second alarm plus a ladder was requested to the scene. Firefighters quickly stretched 2.5 inch attack hoses and placed the ladder pipes and tower ladders in operation. After combating the blaze for close to 6 hours, the fire was finally declared under control. Firefighters remained on scene into the evening to douse hot spots. The fire was caused by an electrical issue in the rectory. A total of 4 Alarms were needed to respond and combat the blaze. The Rochelle Heights Fire Dept. would like to thank the following departments who assisted, Jakeland FD, Lego Twp FD, Portage County FD, Riverwoods FD, Lego Regional Fire Authority, St Lego FD and Liberty County FD. No one was injured at this blaze.
2/19/15 5 ALARM LIBERTY AUTO FIRE
The Rochelle Heights Volunteer Fire Dept. was dispatched at 8:33 PM to the Liberty Pre-Owned Auto Sales dealer at 520 River St for a working fire. When the RHFD arrived on scene, flames had consumed the service garage and attached showroom. Firefighters had a difficult time securing a water source due to all the area hydrants being frozen. Mutual aid fire crews were needed to respond and assist. The county thawing unit was needed to respond to unfreeze the local hydrants. A fire boat was requested from the St Lego Fire Dept. to supply water from the river to the fire scene using multiple engines to drop hose from the boat to the scene. Fire crews from Jakeland, Lego Twp, Brick Twp, Port Lego, Bergen Heights, North Lereado County, St Lego, East St Lego, Riverwoods, Portage, Westbrick, Midlego, South Palm, New Brickington, Buena Vista, Lego Valley, New Brickton, Pauland and Googstown were requested to the scene to assist. Brick Twp's Foam engine was special called to the scene to assist with firefighting efforts. They supplied Jakelands Tower Ladder 4 with foam to the tower to help douse the flames in the service area. The business was closed at the time of this incident. Two firefighters were injured at the scene. A Rochelle Heights firefighter was injured from tripping off a ladder rung injuring his right leg, and a Jakeland Firefighter was injured from slipping and falling on the icy road injuring his back. Both were transported by Rochelle Heights Volunteer Ambulances to North Jersey University Medical Center where they were treated and released. The fire was declared under control at 4:14 AM on 2/20/15. This is the biggest fire in the history of Rochelle Heights. The County Prosecutors Arson Investigation team investigated and determined that a car that was being worked on shortly before the business closed, was the cause of the fire. It is unknown why the car burst into flames however.
4/1/14 CHESTNUT ST GARAGE FIRE
Rochelle Heights firefighters were dispatched at 2:02 PM to a residence on Chestnut St on a report of a working car fire inside a garage. When Chief 830 arrived on scene, he found both the car and the garage burning. Since it was a daytime call and manpower would be low, Chief 830 requested mutual aid from Jakeland, Lego Twp, St Lego, Portage and Riverwoods. Engine 834 arrived on scene shortly after dispatch and stretched a hose to attack the flames from the exterior. Chief 830 ordered an exterior attack on the fire because of the presence of multiple containers storing flammable liquids and propane tanks. Truck 832's crew stretched a second hose off of Engine 834 and also began venting the structure so firefighters could aim their hoses into the storage loft of the garage. When Engine 831 arrived at the scene, their crew dropped a second supply line into the scene in case it was needed. Jakeland Engine 7 stood by at a third hydrant while Jakeland Tower Ladder 4 and Lego Twp Rescue 2 came into the scene to assist. A FAST team from St Lego Ladder 8 also came to the scene. After several containers of flammable liquids and propane tanks exploded, the roof partially collapsed. Flames then shot approximately ten feet in the air threatening nearby homes. Truck 832 then placed its tower ladder in operation to combat the flames from the air. Using two hoses and a tower ladder, the flames were quickly knocked down. Firefighters however continued to douse hotspots and overhaul for another hour. At 5:27 PM, Chief 830 declared the fire under control. The classic car and the garage were both a total loss. No other structure suffered any damage however. The RHFD would like to thank the firefighters from Jakeland Engine 7, Jakeland Tower Ladder 4, St Lego Ladder 8, Lego Twp Rescue 2 for their assistance at the scene. Also we would like to thank the firefighters from Riverwoods Tower 51 and Portage Engine 1 for standing by at Rochelle Heights Fire Dept. Headquarters.
3/23/2013 MUTUAL AID TO JAKELAND 6 ALARM DYSON MANUFACTURING BLAZE
Truck 832 was requested to assist the Jakeland Fire Dept. at a fire at the Dyson Manufacturing Plant on East Suffolk St. The fire quickly grew to 6 alarms bringing mutual aid to the scene from Lego Twp, St Lego, Portage, Johnstown, Riverwoods, Midlego, South Palm, North Lereado County, Buena Vista, Brick City Beach, South Brick Beach, Westbrick, Charlottesburg, New Brickton, Pauland, Brick Twp, Bergen Heights, New Brickington, Lego Valley, Laurenville and Lego Regional Fire Authority. No one was hurt or killed at this incident. For more information go to the Jakeland Fire Dept. site http://jakelandfd.weebly.com/2013-incidents.html
3/21/2013 3 ALARM AT PASSAIC ST/PARKWAY
At 8:45 AM, the RHPD received a call from a motorist reporting smoke coming from 144 Passaic St, Dappers Restaurant. When Engine 831 and Truck 832 arrived on scene, they found heavy fire and smoke venting from the apartments above Dappers Restaurant. Jakeland Engine 7 and Tower Ladder 4 were requested to the scene as well as a second alarm. Lego Twp Rescue 2, East Heights Engine 441 and Johnstown Tower 93 were requested to the scene. A St Lego engine and a Lego Twp ladder were requested to standby at the firehouse. Firefighters experienced a difficult task of combating the fire. Before firefighters were able to reach the seat of the fire, the second floor of 120 Parkway was engulfed in flames. A third alarm was then requested to the scene bringing Lego Twp Ladder 1, St Lego Engine 14 and Lego Regional Fire Auth. Engine 7 to the scene. Jakeland firefighters who were on the second floor of 144 Passaic St had to bail out due to the fire continuing to spread rapidly. Flames eventually shot through the roof as firefighters began to battle the blaze from the street. Firefighters from Lego Regional and East Heights also experienced a difficult task on the second floor of 120 Parkway. The fire quickly grew out of control and spread up to the third floor. Due to the amount of time needed to extend a hose up to the third floor to combat the blaze, the fire quickly flashed over and vented out of the windows on the third floor. Firefighters were forced to evacuate 120 Parkway and three ladders were put in operation to battle the blaze. Eventually, Jakeland Engine 7 was able to re-enter 144 Passaic St to finish the job. Once all visible fire from the exterior of 120 Parkway was knocked down, firefighters were able to combat the remaining fire from the inside. Overhaul became very involved and took an extended period of time to complete. Firefighters operated at the scene for a total of 5 and a half hours. No firefighter or civilians were injured. The RHFD would like to thank the following departments for their assistance: Jakeland, Lego Twp, St Lego, Lego Regional Fire Authority, Johnstown, East Heights, Portage, Midlego, Westbrick and New Brickington.
4/4/2012 FOREST PL, JAKELAND HOUSE FIRE
The Rochelle Heights Police Dept and the Jakeland Fire Dept both received a call from the County 9-1-1 Dispatch, reporting that there was a possible house fire on the border of Jakeland and Rochelle Heights. A Rochelle Heights Police Officer was able to locate the house in Jakeland at 640 Forest Pl. Firefighters from both Rochelle Heights and Jakeland operated at the scene for close to 4 hours. Mutual aid from St Lego was also requested to the scene for air supply and rehab. Truck 832 vented the roof of the home, while Engine 831 stretched hoses into the home for an interior attack.
6/28/2009 Route 17 South Car Crash
On 6/28/2009 the Rochelle Heights Fire Dept at 21:19 was dispatched for a motor vehicle crash on Route 17 South near the Jakeland border. Chief 830 arrived on scene first and confirmed a one car accident with the driver pinned. Rescue 833 was first out of the firehouse followed by Engine 834 shortly after. Jakeland Fire Dept. Squad 3 was also dispatched to the scene to assist. The patient was quickly cut out of the vehicle and transported to Jakeland University Medical Center. The driver reported that an unknown vehicle cut her off, causing her to swerve off the highway and into the highway wall.
4/12/2009 EASTER SUNDAY HOUSE FIRE
At 12:54 PM the Rochelle Heights Fire Dept. was dispatched to 143 Howard Ave for a working house fire. When the RHPD arrived on scene, they found heavy fire and smoke coming out of the third floor windows. The occupants of the home also reported to the police that everyone was out of the home. When Chief 830 arrived on scene, he immediately requested that Jakeland send an engine (Engine 12) and a ladder(Truck 1) to the scene and also another engine (Lego Twp Engine 11) and ladder (Buildington Truck 6) to stand by at the firehouse. As hoses were stretched up to the third floor, firefighters had problems locating the fire. After Truck 832 vented the roof, heavy black smoke began pouring out. As firefighters kept searching for the fire, the fire flashed and began shooting up out of the roof and a rear window. Firefighters were then backed out of the structure and an exterior attack from Jakeland Truck 1's tower and Truck 832's ladder pipe began attacking the fire from the air. When the fire was darkened down, crews were able to re-enter the structure and cool off hot spots. The Rochelle Heights FD would like to thank all the mutual aid that assisted, without your help this fire could have been a lot worse.