Engine Company #3 Wins Fire Inspection Contest

Sicomac Engine Company #3 won the township’s 52nd  Annual Fire Department Inspection Contest held on Friday, March 11 which concluded in an awards dinner ceremony on Saturday. 

The Township Committee congratulated firefighters of Company #3 and Deputy Chief Bill Koeber on winning the contest. The township’s volunteer firefighters spent weeks dismantling, cleaning and repairing, if necessary, the fire pumpers and trucks of the three fire companies that protect Wyckoff, as well as all the equipment located on those vehicles. 

A panel of seven independent fire fighting experts conducted the inspection of the fire apparatus and the knowledge of the firefighters, traveling first to Sicomac Engine Company #3 which is located on Sicomac Avenue; to Protection Company #1 located behind Town Hall and finally to Community Engine Company #2 located on Wyckoff Avenue. Township Committeeman Brian D. Scanlan was present during the inspections. 

Fire Chief Mike Rose emphasized that the annual contest provides an opportunity for the fire department to ensure that the Township’s fire fighting equipment is in the best possible condition by conducting a thorough review of the fire trucks, equipment and the knowledge of the officers, drivers and firefighters of all three fire companies in the Township. 

The inspection was conducted by a team of seven inspectors. They were: Lead Inspector, Carl Wendt, Captain Newark Rescue Company; John Riker, Retired Deputy Chief Newark Fire Department; Joe Speranza, Fire Chief Hawthorne; Pete O’Connor, Passaic Fire Department; Ryan Murray, Captain Paterson Fire Department; Scott Para, Deputy Fire Chief Boonton Township; and Wyckoff resident Brian Saxton. 

“The inspection is an intense competition between Wyckoff’s three fire companies," Fire Chief Mike Rose said as the firefighters were being tested on their knowledge.  He explained that the firefighters prepare by servicing, cleaning and revamping their apparatus and equipment two nights a week for six to seven weeks prior to the inspection, and every night for the final two weeks before the inspection.  They also study procedures and policies in order to pass the oral examinations and respond to the various potential fire fighting scenarios presented by the inspectors. 

The Township’s fire department is the only fire department in the State of New Jersey that conducts inspections of the condition of its fire apparatus, and, submits the fire fighting knowledge of its firefighters and officers to the evaluation of outside experts. 

Chief Rose informed the firefighters and their families who attended the awards ceremony that the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department was called and responded to 588 emergencies in 2010 and spent an additional 35,000 hours dedicated to training in order to be prepared to make those emergency responses. 

This year several firefighters participated in an in-house 26 week Pump Operators Training Course. This extensive course helps prepare members to be properly qualified chauffeurs during an emergency. This year, the following members will be awarded with their pump operations/drivers wings:

            Will Neuenhaus                                   Lt. James Abma

            Colin Bell                                            Lt. Aaron Gettleman

The following firefighters completed milestone years of firefighter service and were presented with “service stripes”:

            5 years of service:

                        Colin Bell

                        Kyle Bleeker

            10 years of service:

                        Batt. Chief Scott Fisher

            15 years of service:

                        Tim Brock

                        Ed Repier

                        Batt. Chief Brian Hendrickson

                        Deputy Chief Joe Vander Plaat

            20 years of service:

                        Ron Alfano

            25 years of service:

                        Ed Scott

            30 years of service:

                        Don Smith

            35 years of service:

                        Fred Depken

                        Kevin McCracken

                        Ex-Departmental Chief Wayne Remo

                        Ex-Departmental Chief Howard Woodbury

            50 years of service:

                        Lou Warnet

 Several other awards were presented including:

            Most Active Junior Firefighter:  Joe Tani from Sicomac Engine Company #3

                        Highest Fire Call Percentage:

                        Company #1    Charlie Cole

                        Company #2    Fred Depken

                        Company #3    Matt Tani

            Highest Drill Percentage:

                        Company #1    Brian Dehaas

                        Company #2    Ron Alfano

                        Company #3    Chris Rios

Chief Rose remarked, “Dave joined the department as a young man following in his father’s footsteps. He was often found with his Dad at the firehouse checking on the trucks, cleaning equipment or at family functions. He joined the Wyckoff Fire Department promptly at age 18 as soon as the ink was dry on his high school diploma, not wanting to miss out on any of the action! Dave was quickly recognized for his aggressive firefighting tactics, his willingness to learn and his leadership abilities. Later he decided to join the ranks of firematic officer and rose through the ranks in his company, finally serving as Department Chief.”

 This is the eighth year this award was presented in honor of Dana Rey Hannon, a Wyckoff volunteer firefighter and a New York City firefighter.  Dana Hannon was killed during the immediate rescue response to the World Trade Center terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.