Quick knockdown on Cozy Lake Road house fire
(October 1) At 10:50 am on October 1, JTFD#1 and JTFD#2 were dispatched to a residence on Cozy Lake Road in the Milton section, near the Co. 1 substation for a working structure fire. Multiple callers were reporting a working fire at the time of dispatch.
Arriving units found a single story single family home with a well involved fire in an attached garage. First arriving engines took positions on the front lawn of the home to leave the roadway clear for a tanker shuttle operation, as the fire was in a rural area outside of the municipal water supply. Mutual aid tanker support was dispatched immediately by Chief Schmidt who had visual on the smoke from the fire during his response.
The fire had begun to extend to house and across the attic ceiling, charring a large area of the interior of the attic ceiling. Crews made an aggressive attack and upon encountering high heat in the attic of the home, made a quick decision to deploy the FIT-5 device. The FIT-5 was successful in immediately knocking down the fire in the attic ceiling area and reducing the temperature enough for the interior engine crew to enter the attack and knock down the hot spots. The garage was a total loss, but the house sustained mostly smoke and heat damage. This was the second successful use of the FIT-5 in an interior structure fire for JTFD#1; the first time was also the first time the device was used in the state of New Jersey and the first successful deployment in a basement fire in North America.
Units on scene were Engines 720, 722, 724 and 727, Tankers 723 and 714, Milton Ambulance and Jefferson Police with mutual aid from West Milford Companies 1, 2 and 4. Chief A. Schmidt (730) had command
Listen to Dispatch Audio: LINK
Photos by and copyright Raymond Shattuck, WMFD Co 4, for more photos visit:http://www.wmfd4.org
Daily Record article LINK

JTFD#1 involved in newsworthy event: First FIT-5 deployment in New Jersey
(April 30) On April 1 2008, JTFD#1 was alerted to go mutual aid into the Oak Ridge section of West Milford Township, Passaic County for the working structure fire. Responding from Milton was Engine 722, Rescue 725 and Chief A. Schmidt in Command Unit 730. Upon arrival at the scene, the first arriving chief and engine found a working basement fire in a single family house in a district lacking a municipal water supply. Chief Schmidt advised Chief Castro of WMFD that he would like to deploy a FIT-5 device through the basement window in coordination with the interior attack to attempt a quick knockdown of the fire. Chief Schmidt threw the device through the basement window and within seconds the fire darkened down. Crews from West Milford and JTFD#1 entered to find significantly reduced heat and fire conditions and completed extinguishment and began overhaul.
There was minimal damage to the rest of the home.
The FIT-5 is a new kind of fire suppression tool, a Powder Aerosol Generator. According to the manufacturer’s website “the FIT-5 is about the size of a lunchbox, and weighs about nine pounds. It is designed to be carried in Chiefs vehicles and on Fire Trucks. First Responders use it to knockdown fires prior to entering a burning structure.
The devices deploy a huge cloud of super-fine aerosol powder. This powder attacks the fire chemically, interrupting the Fire … interrupting the flames within seconds.”
This deployment was the first use of a FIT-5 in the state of New Jersey and the first successful use on a basement fire in North America. Basement fires are particularly dangerous for firefighters and this fire would have required extensive tanker shuttle operations, so the effect of the FIT-5 deployment was significant.
Click here for the news story from WCBS Newsradio 880 (mp3 format)
Click here for the article at First Responder Network
Click here for the article on MSNBC

JTFD members complete Ice Rescue training
(February 17) Members of Jefferson Township Fire Co. 1 completed various levels of training in Ice Rescue this past weekend. The training was conducted by members of Jefferson Fire Co. 2 who are certified instructors for Life Saving Resources.
The first part of the course consisted of a 3 hour class room session for Awareness Certification on January 29, 2008. The second part consisted of outdoor operations as primary (technician) rescuer and secondary (operations) rescuer on a sunny, cold Saturday morning on February 16th at Preston Lake. The training started at 7:30 AM. The temperature was about 18 degrees when the training started that morning. Temperatures were above freezing by the time the drill ended around noon. The primary rescuer is responsible for getting into the dry suits to go into the icy water to rescue someone in the water surrounded by ice. The primary rescuer has to be able to communicate with the secondary rescuers on land who are responsible for the safety lines attached to the primary rescuer and victim.Various techniques were taught for rescue - self rescue of the rescuer, use of slings, back boards, ladders, Marsar rescue sled, Survive Alive rescue sled. 28 members of the fire company participated in different phases of the training. Photos coming soon.

Another famous Milton wetdown: a huge success
(July 22) Fire Departments from all over New Jersey showed up in force to help JTFD#1 wet down our new Command Unit, Utility and Engine this weekend. Hundreds of local residents, neighbors, family, friends and area fire departments gathered at JTFD#1 Headquarters for a party that lasted well into the early hours of the morning.Special thanks to all of our sponsors and to JTFD#2 for helping cover our district and for cooking all day and all night to keep the masses well fed. More photos to come soon.

Quick Knockdown at Lukoil Service Station
(March 24) JTFD#1 dispatched to the Lukoil Gas Station on Berkshire Valley Road, on Saturday 3/24 in the early afternoon. First arriving units found a working fire in the storage area and achieved a quick knockdown with only minor damage. West Milford and Hardyston Fire were dispatched due to the nature and initial call of working fire, but were quickly canceled. Assistant Chief A. Schmidt (731) was Lukoil Command, with response from Co #1, Co #2, and the MFAS. Fire was not suspicious, the station opening for business the next day.

2008 Officers Installed
(January 20) JTFD#1 held its annual Installation Dinner this past Saturday at the Zeris Inn, Denville. Chief Andrew Schmidt was installed along with his line officers: Asst Cheif Guy Bakera, Capt Vinny Corsaro and Lt. Gerry Brown; Engineers Paul Schaller, Jr., Rich Boonstra and Tom Galfo.
Mayor Russell Felter administered the oath of office in front of the room of assembled local dignitaries, guests, family, friends, neighboring fire chiefs and JTFD members.
Also installed were President Barbara Runz, Vice President Tom Walsh, Secretary Ed Mangold, Treasurer Neil VanDyke, Financial Secretary Bob Emmetts and Sgt at Arms Ray Cabrera.
Special thanks to JTFD#2 for providing coverage while we were out of town for this special night.