doc13mets

A volunteer department could not "easily" handle Kearny, E. Newark and Harrison. You are nuts!! You do realize you would need about 275-300 volunteers to handle that right?

When a FD responds mutual aid to another town they can only do as much as that town asks them. Often times when ENFD responds to Harrison or Kearny Fire they will often be assigned to be the "FAST" or "RIT" at first. Even if it's late in the incident. Often these guys look like they are doing nothing. It's a good thing when they do nothing also as that means no one is trapped inside. What is a FAST? The fire they had last year they put out. Harrison was quick to the scene and connected the hydrant and put up ladders. (A crucial part of the operation) East Newark had a hose line already operating in the building when Harrison arrived.

Kearny would have the upper hand in any merge. As they are not the ones that need it. It would be on their terms. That I'm pretty sure of. Like you said it would save Harrison from folding. I still believe Harrison has the ability to save themselves and keep a fully paid fire department and not layoff PD/FD. Just they are unwilling to approach the issue. Who's at fault? Not sure, but the tax payers deserve those services.

What are you talking about? Maybe you left out a few words? Not really sure. What devices dipcked on websited attached to their buildings? Devices on websites that are attached to buildings? Seriously? What does that even mean? You still need help!!

Fr. John Washington He was assigned to St. Stephen's Church in Kearny. (That portion of Washington Ave by St. Stephen's was renamed in honor of him)

Are you serious? a 20 min response time? I would put any dollar amount that Hudson County FD's combined have the quickest response time vs any other county in the state. Kearny and Harrison both have very good response times. Now maybe you bring up a point about out of towners. People should at least have to live in a certain "bubble" maybe like 15-20 miles of their town to be an emergency worker in my opinion. But you are talking about state laws that allow it. So thats what should be challenged.

If that were to happen in a few months the plans would have already been laid my friend. That is not an overnight thing. Try again.

Great to hear. You said like I've been saying time and time again. Harrison FD should continue to run the EMS. They do a great job with it. They help bring in some money to support the FD budget as well. Keep this service in the hands of the HFD!

I guess you didn't realize that was a poll done by this site to vote for the best local PD. It was between Harrison, Kearny, East Newark and North Arlington. Kearny was voted the best out of the 4. You still need some help. Call EMS tell them you are an EDP.

I hope this story isn't true. If it is. It's very sad and I'm sorry for what happened to you. On the other hand one thing leads me to believe that isn't not true. One thing and one thing only. You mentioned you got skin grafts, wearing jobes pants and upper body wraps then mentioned how it wasn't that bad. You go on to talk about how you "moved on after a few days in the burn unit". Well if you were actually burned as badly as you say you were and the description would fit with skin grafts and such. You would be in the burn unit for a lot more then a "few days" in fact you have to even return numerous times after your initial treatment period. If that story is true then God bless you!

Furthermore this topic is about "Fires" and the KFD and HFD was mentioned. That's probably why I didn't mention the HPD at all.

I agree with you on a few things. Yes the Harrison Police do a fantastic job with the little man power they have already!! I posted in the Harrison section about how they should not be reduced one bit! Unfortunately (or fortunately for some people that seem to "hate" me for whatever reason) I can't go into great detail about the HPD because I do not know as much about them. What I do know is Harrison needs more police protection in this day and age and they are doing one hell of a job with the reduced manpower they already have. The Town of Harrison can't afford to reduce any public safety (Police and Fire) at this time. I fully support the HPD, anyone who puts their life on the line everyday in protection of others gets my praise.

Your still living in the past. Making statements such as these are childish. Especially how untrue this is. You wanna know what a fine "Team" is? Well its when our local fire departments all work together to get the job done and not let silly statements like the poster above made get in the way. Now thats a Fine TEAM!

What works in one town doesn't always work in every other town. Establishing a volunteer FD isn't as easy as you think it is. It is very important for long term safty that harrison be protected by paid firefighters with quick response times. The residences are just way to close together. The police department should not be cut either. Neither department should be. HFD should also keep the EMS service they offer. Switching to an outside private company will only cost the tax payers more money.

I did the same. Came up empty. Tried it a bunch of different ways also. I second that motion on this person needing some medical help.

You are right about one thing. Harrison can not afford to lay off Police Officers. But you are wrong about another. Harrison would not be better off with a volunteer department. What works in East Newark does not mean it would work in Harrison. Harrison FD is a lot buisier then you think. The residents aren't better off with a volunteer fd. Far from it. Man power should remain around 40 odd guys in Harrison. They should have 8 guys on at least per shift. reduction down to 24 firefighters is outright scary. Harrison Tax payers wake up your fire insurance will sky rocket! Sure maybe the two sides need to get together and figure out how to make some savings but it can't start with lowering manpower to 24 firefighters. That is insanity!

First off it doesn't matter how many fires they have put out to date. We are paying them to be there when we need them most. First off you souldn't group KFD and HFD in the same boat. HFD is going through some really really tough times, the likes none have seen and they need some serious help over there. No one seems to be willing to work out solutions to the problem. Kearny on the other hand is still in good shape. Sure they had to make some adjustments after the last layoff threat. But they worked through it and still have a safe amount of manpower on each day. KFD doesn't just goto Fire, the do lost of other important things like Extracations at MVA's, they take care of dangerous conditions (from dangerous falling tree limbs to siding falling off building onto walk ways) to make sure people don't get hurt. I've said from day one as a taxypayer I'm very happy to have a paid fire department protecting my home, you should to.

AED is a medical term idiot.

First off the two engines that they will sell were mid 90's... I think 96's... That’s not new in the fire service by any means. The Ladder is from the late 80's and they have one relatively new engine which they should keep.

VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE!!!! are you crazy!!! Trust me I listen to a lot of the southern Bergen county/west Essex county towns that use a volunteer ambulance doesn't work to well. Tone goes out for a person with chest pains... 2 minutes later another tone goes out... "Need additional manpower"... 2 minutes later... "We need a driver to respond"... hopefully 2 minutes later they are out the door... North Arlington has paid EMS during most hours, hell they may be paid on site 24/7 by now... Kearny ambulance couldn't get enough volunteers that’s why they are paid now... You have to be nuts, a paid ambulance that’s the last thing I would want to see anywhere... If you are going to have a paid ambulance you better darn well have a paid FD that respond as first responders so they could hook you up to that AED and save your darn life. The remaining HFD guys after the next round of retirements need to realize that the town needs to do something to help protect them, imagine pulling up to a working fire with 6 firefighters and no BC!!!

I agree the HPD should not have any layoffs or demotions if anything they should be figuring out how to hire!! Public Safety is the most important service any municipality offers and should not be shorted in anyway. Unfortunately I can't see ENPD and HPD merging. Explain how East Newark would give up it's 2 per shift in a 1/10th of a square mile town to merge with Harrison to probably pay more and get less protection. Harrison residents that live on streets that have East Newark residents are probably thrilled because at least they have a ENPD driving down there block regularly. This is no knock to the HPD they are doing the best they can with what they have. Time for a few give backs boys. Look what ENPD are making and what you're making. Not saying you don't deserve it just saying times are tough for everyone and we all need to make sacrifices. As for a merge of ENFD and HFD I can't see a merge happening. Why would East Newark do that. They pay peanuts for their FD and they have a good amount of manpower. HFD is being reduced to nothing which is a crying shame. I hear they are also going to a private ambulance service? Is this true? That’s terrible because it was a good revenue generator for the HFD. There has to be a way to keep this service and not take a huge hit on the budget. It costs Harrison something like about 1.5 million a year to staff 1 ladder (or 1 engine) on a 24 hour basis. McDonough time to pick up the phone call up Mayor Smith offer him a substantial amount of money to provide some automatic aid. Offer 500K a year for 1 Ladder (or 1 Engine, whatever the fire minds figure out is best) to respond to all of Harrisons calls. With that money Harrison saves and receives no less protection, East Newark can hire 2 guys M-F during business hours to man it, increase their fire budget to offer more services and East Newark would still save some money. HFD could then also keep their ambulances. They would have to shut down Cleveland Ave but I think we all know that’s coming. Wouldn't be much of an issue anyway with an Engine coming from 7th street and a Ladder from Sherman Ave. (Or vice versa) I know there will be union issues but it doesn’t seem like Harrison FMBA is willing to give anything back to protect all these jobs.

Please share the link. Many other people would probably want to read it.

Two more guys retired in the beginning of May. I hear more are retiring come June and then some more come July. I never once said anyone would get laid off. I've actually multiple times said that they aren't layoffs that they are reducing through attrition. Guys are retiring and they are not hiring anyone to replace them. That is a reduction in staff, it's already started. I've never said anything on this board that hasn't come true. Sometimes I share my opinion on matters and give thoughts on what I might do. But that’s not gossip. Go back, tell me where I stated something was going to happen and it didn't happen. The fire department will still be here come next year. Just not like it was last year or even right now for that matter. Staffing needs to be at the very least 1 engine, 1 ladder and 1 EMS (with a second EMS and taking the ladder out of service). HFD has called mutual aid many times the past few months when they had a second EMS ambulance sitting in HQ but didn't have the manpower to send it out. That’s what needs to be corrected.

HFD have a number of guys that can retire. No one will get terminated. They will retire which allows them to recieve all unused vacation and sick time. And it's not like they are "trying" to do this. It's just a rule.

Really KOTW for all the other stuff you don't allow to post you allow this? You don't think this guy is certifiable? What the heck is this guy even talking about? lol wow just wow (wow's at this guy not KOTW)