"...As many as 125 firefighters responded to a fire in a 26-story building on February 27, 2009 that left four injured and kept residents of more than 40 units out of their homes. Around 7:30 p.m. fire units were dispatched to the Greenhouse Condominium on Anderson Avenue where a caller reported seeing flames inside of an upper floor window. At around the same time the fire alarm on the 8th floor was activated. First arriving Police Officers Ralph Marciano and Jackie Flanagan went to the 8th floor to investigate and found smoke coming from a west wing apartment. They located a woman in the apartment in a heavy smoke condition and had to convince her to leave and escorted her out to safety. Battalion Chief Teddy Tarabokija was right behind the officers, began a primary search and located the seat of the fire and notified Fire Chief Anthony Lupica. Lupica could see the glow of red within the apartment window from Anderson Avenue and notified communications to transmit a High Rise Task Force second-alarm assignment. The high-rise task force assignment was recently established within the East Bergen mutual aid departments and this was its first activation since its inception. A total of 24 fire companies from 12 East Bergen and mid-Bergen County departments converged on Cliffside Park, some reporting to the scene and others covering the municipality at fire headquarters. In addition, ambulances from 9 local towns plus ALS units reported to the scene. Officials stated the fire started in the bedroom area of the apartment and extended into the living room.“We had to evacuate the floor above the floor below,” said Chief Lupica.
Members of Engine 6 advanced the first hand line into the apartment, backed up by a second line from Engine 3 to knock down the flames. Other firefighters were assigned to search and handle calls for assistance by residents in their apartments. Firefighters evacuated residents with special needs because of the smoke, heat and other conditions. Dozens of people that ran out of the building were sheltered in a NJ Transit bus that was summoned to the scene and located on Anderson Avenue. Assisting the Cliffside Park command post was the Leonia Fire Department’s field communications unit. Teaneck’s Box 54 Club set up a rehab station on the north side of the fire building. Hackensack’s Mask Service Unit, part of the task force, filled numerous air bottles at the scene.
The fire was brought under control in about one hour according to the chief and its cause is under investigation. Initially 49-apartments in the building were rendered uninhabitable because of “various conditions of damage,” Lupica said, but residents of some of those units were able to return during the evening. The occupant of the fire apartment, Police Officer Flanagan and two firefighters were treated for smoke in halation.“Everyone did an out standing job,” said Chief Lupica."

Article and Photo by Ron Jeffers

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Basement Fire on Day Avenue
Wednesday, March 4 2009 - CPFD

      On February 21st, 2009 the Cliffside Park Fire Department was dispatched to a working basement fire on Day Avenue. Engine 6 arrived on scene and was greeted by a heavy smoke condition emanating from the basement of the residential structure. The first hand line was stretched by Fire Fighters Robert DiMartini, Jason Chafulio, and Cosar Taalu. A second line was needed to provide back-up to the initial attack. The second line was brought to the basement by Battalion Chief Tarabokija and Fire Fighter Ray Sanchez. Engine 3 advanced a hand line to the first floor to ascertain if the fire spread while Ladder 1 and Fairview Truck 2 provided ventilation. The fire was brought under control quickly through the aggressive efforts of the Cliffside Park and Fairview Fire Departments. It was later determined that the basement was illegally subdivided and legal action will follow.

By FF Galliano

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New Fire Chiefs and Officers
Wednesday, March 4 2009 - CPFD

      Effective January 1st, 2009 until January 1st, 2011 the following members became Chiefs and Officers of the Cliffside Park Fire Department:

Chief of Department Anthony Lupica
Deputy Chief Brian Martone
Battalion Chief Teddy Tarabokija
Captain Charlie Pang
Captian Pete Killinger
Captain Dave Martone
Lieutenant Mike Hromin
Lieutenant Greg Yfantis
Lieutenant Nick Vetro


From Left to Right: Capt. Martone, Capt. Killinger, Capt. Pang, Chief Lupica, Mayor Calabrese, Commissioner Martinotti,BC Tarabokija, Lt. Hromin, Lt. Yfantis, Lt. Vetro

Congratulations to the new and returning Chiefs and Officers.

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Fire On Winterburn Grove
Sunday, March 4 2007 - Nick_Galliano

      On February 15th, 2007 at approximately 8:30 pm, the Cliffside Park Fire Department was dispatched to a working fire on Winterburn Grove, in the borough of Cliffside Park. The fire was reported to be located in the rear of the residence. After confirming the location and condition of the fire; Engine 3, the first piece of fire apparatus at the scene, was ordered to stretch a hand line from the front entrance to the rear. Mutual aide was requested, bringing in fire units from Fairview, Ridgefield, Edgewater, and Fort Lee and Teaneck Box 54 responded to the scene. Eventually the walls and floor started to deteriorate prompting command to remove the crews working inside of the house and being an exterior attack. With hand lines stretched to the back of the house and with the aid of Fort Lee's ladder truck and Cliffside Park Engine 6's deck gun the fire was brought under control at 11:00PM. This two and half hour fire left the fire scene literally in cased in ice. Temperatures that night were well below the freezing point; which made a simple, such as walking, a challenge. However, the below freezing conditions did not hamper the efforts of the Fire Fighters working at the scene. Photo courtesy of Ron Jeffers

Photo Courtesey of Ron Jeffers

To view a small clip of the fire click here.

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Officers of the 2007-2009 Term
Thursday, February 8 2007 - Nick_Galliano

      Congratulations to the new and returning officers of the 2007-2009 term.

Department Chief Anthony Lupica (Engine Co.)
Chief Frank Poerio (Hose Co.)
Battalion Chief Brian Martone (Truck Co.)

Captain Bernie Prosperi (Hose Co.)
Captain Charlie Pang (Truck Co.)
Captain Robert DiMartini (Engine Co.)
Lieutenant Teddy Tarabokija (Truck Co.)
Lieutenant Dave Martone (Engine Co.)
Lieutenant Peter Killinger (Hose Co.)

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Rappelling
Saturday, May 13 2006 - Nick_Galliano

      On May 13th, 2006 at 1000 hours the members of Cliffside Park Fire Dept. participated in a Rappelling Drill at Fire Head Quarters. Members, who have rappelled in the past, got a chance to brush up on their skills. The members participating would like to thank Lt.’s Lanzisera and Pang for making the drill possible.

 
 
  

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Working House Fire in a Vacant
Friday, February 24 2006 - Nick_Vetro

      At roughly 10:00pm an alarm was struck for 33 Lincoln Ave. for a report of a house on fire. Reports from PD, stated visible flames coming from the 1st floor of a vacant house under construction. First arriving Chief CP-9 (DeLeon) quickly hit the in town 2nd alarm which assigned Fairview's truck company to RIT and a Ridgefield engine to standby at our quarters. CP-9 special requested CP Engine 3 (Tele-squirt) to respond first due, the 2nd due piece of apparatus was CP Engine 6, followed by CP Ladder 1. Upon arrival crews were met with missing floor boards, large voids through the house, as well as other hazardous obstacles. At this time a defensive attack was initiated which held the fire to the 1st floor with minor extension to the 2nd. Crews operated at the scene for roughly 1.5 hours. The fire is currently under investigation. Photos courtesy of Ron Jeffers:

 
 
Photos By: Ron Jeffers

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Multiple Dwelling fire on Walker St. in Fairview
Monday, November 28 2005 - Nick_Vetro

      At roughly 09:30 hours a general alarm was sounded in the Borough of Fairview for a heavy smoke condition coming from 355 Walker St, a multiple dwelling just 3 houses away from the quarters of FV Hose 3 & FV Truck 2. Walker St, which is infamous for building’s built almost on top of one another and having many tenements and dwellings littered with apartments runs directly from Bergen Blvd. in Fairview to Gorge Rd. in Cliffside, both areas are well known for having a large potentional for fire because of this. Fairview command quickly transmitted an in borough second alarm upon arrival, this brought a Truck Co. from Cliffside and Engine Co. from Ridgefield.

At 09:34 hours a general alarm was struck in Cliffside for the Truck Co. to respond mutual aid with Ladder 1. CP Ladder 1 was originally assigned to RIT team duties as always on an in town 2nd alarm in Fairview, that order was quickly changed once the truck crew arrived. Another company was assigned to RIT and CP Truck's crew went to work with FV Truck's crew. FV Command special called for Cliffside's Tele-Squirt (CP Engine 3) to setup in a near by bodega’s parking lot to cover the rear of the fire building and exposures. The fire which appears to be electrical related traveled the walls from the basement and was running the ceiling on the first floor. The truck crews pulled ceilings and walls to expose the fire and members from FV and Ridgefield's engine companies extinguished the fire. Below are a few pictures from after the fire, nice work all. Good stop!

 
 
Photos By: Ron Jeffers

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Ridgefield mutual aid to Lancaster Rd.
Saturday, November 19 2005 - Nick_Vetro

      On the night of November 18th a fire broke out in a house on Lancaster Rd. in the Borough of Ridgefield. Ridgefield Command (Keys) quickly dispatched for an in town second alarm which brought Cliffside Ladder 1 (RIT) and Fairview Hose 3. A general alarm was quickly struck in Cliffside for Ladder 1 to respond. CP Ladder 1 was originally assigned to RIT team duties, because of our proximity to the address and our response time Ridgefield command quickly put Cliffside's truck crew to work on the roof and assigned another company to RIT. The fire appears to have started in or around an enclosed porch in the rear of the house. The fire quickly traveled though the house collapsing the rear porch and and a portion of the house. The engine crews from Ridgefield and Fairview were having a difficult time advancing a line to the 2nd floor rear due to the amount of smoke and heat, CP Ladder 1's crew vented accordingly and rectified that issue. Several mutual aid towns were called in addition to CP Ladder 1 and FV Hose 3: Palisades Park (Engine), Fort Lee (Tower Ladder), Leonia Field Comm, and the City of Englewood (Tower Ladder). Sorry if I missed anyone. Good work guys! Here are some pics:

 
 
Photos by: Ron Jeffers


Video: http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=82060@wcbs.dayport.com&cid=48 *Notice CP Ladder 1 in the background*

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Fire Fighters Make Grab
Sunday, November 13 2005 - Nick_Galliano

      Early Sunday Morning (Oct 29th) Cliffside Park was dispatched to a tenement fire on Anderson Ave. While the Truck Co. was conducting a primary search they came across a woman. There were reports that there may be a second victime inside, after the crew removed her and placed her in the care of EMS they conducted another search with negative results. Engine 3 stretched the 300' 1" 3/4 preconnect and knocked down the blaze. Engine 6 took care of the utilities

From Left to Right: DC Anthony Lupica, FF Nick Vetro, FF Patrick O'hara, Cap't Bernie Prosperi, LT. Charlie Pang
Photo By: Ron Jeffers

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Fire On Palisade Ave
Saturday, November 12 2005 - Nick_Vetro

      On August 24th, 2005 Cliffside Park Fire Dept was dispatched to 348 Palisade Ave. with a report of heavy smoke coming from the roof. Units arrived to find smoke coming from the roof further investigation revealed a fire in the kitchen area. Ladder One's crew went to work venting the fire on the roof and taking windows. Engine 3's crew stretched an 1" 3/4 handline and extingushed the fire. Engine 6 stretched a second line from Engine 3 and went to the second floor and than the roof.

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"God bless the tower"

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