October - November - December

DECEMBER 8 - From Frank Martucci
A two-alarm fire heavily damaged an occupied, 2-1/2-story frame dwelling, at 431 Parker Street, between Abington and Berkeley Avenues. The following account of the fire was taken from an archive of the radio transmissions for the job. Times shown are based on radio transmission times. Tour 4 was on duty.

At 18:54 hours, a 911 call for a fire at 531 Parker Street, between Ballantine Parkway and Delavan Avenue, prompted a full assignment to be transmitted for Box 3326. Turning out in answer to the alarm were Engines 13, 9, 28 and 15, Trucks 6 and 7, Battalion 3, Deputy 1, and Rescue 1. While units were en route, dispatch advised they had gotten a call for 431 Parker Street, between Abington and Berkeley Avenues. A unit arriving reported a working fire in a 2-1/2-story frame, on the second and third floors, followed by a report from Rescue 1 of a working fire, with fire blowing out the first and second floors in the rear. Dispatch got units to confirm the fire was at 431 Parker Street. Battalion 3 then reported a Signal 11, bringing Truck 11 to the scene as the FAST team, and Battalion 1 as the ISO. Rescue 1 advised Battalion 3 that they had two floors of fire goin’ good and they were trying to establish a water supply.

Shortly after his arrival at the scene, Battalion 3 advised dispatch they had a fire in an occupied, 2-1/2-story frame dwelling, with heavy fire on the first floor. Two lines had been stretched, one of which one was in operation, and truck companies were opening up. Shortly after, at 19:00 hours, Battalion 3 requested a second alarm, ordering the units to stage on Parker Street between 2nd and Abington Avenues. The second alarm brought Engines 7, 6, 11 and 5, Truck 1, and Battalion 5 to the scene.

At 19:05 hours, Deputy 1 reported fire on the first and second floors of a large, 2-1/2-story frame, and that lines were working. Battalion 3 advised Deputy 1 that they were making good progress knocking down the fire, which prompted Deputy 1 to advise dispatch, at 19:08 hours, that all companies were working, lines were in operation, and good progress was being made in knocking down the fire. Shortly after, Truck 7 advised Deputy 1 they had fire coming through the roof.

At 19:13 hours, Rescue 1 advised Deputy 1 that a preliminary search of the basement and first floor was negative, and that they were working their way to the second floor, which was reported as negative two minutes later. The ISO then advised Deputy 1 that Engine 7 was making their way to the third floor to knock down the fire. At 19:16 hours, Deputy 1 special-called an additional truck to the scene as the FAST team, as he was putting Truck 11 to work. Truck 5 was dispatched. Deputy 1 then advised Battalion 3 that the fire was blowing out the back, which Battalion 3 acknowledged and reported they had water on the fire and they were still opening up.

At 19:23 hours, the ISO reported to Deputy 1 that the primary search of the third floor proved negative, they had the cockloft opened up, all visible fire had been knocked down, and that companies were still overhauling. This was immediately followed by Deputy 1 reporting to dispatch that the secondary searches of the basement, first, and second floors were negative.

Deputy 1 reported the fire to be under control at 19:33 hours. At 19:36 hours, he transmitted a Signal 102, and requested Headquarters 3C to the scene for the displaced occupants of the house. At that time, the ISO reported to Deputy 1 that the secondary search of the third floor was negative.

The residents of the house, which occupied the addresses of 429-31 Parker Street, had all managed to escape to safety unharmed, but heavy fire, smoke, and water damage prevented them from returning to their home.

DECEMBER 3 - From Battalion Chief Greg Sereico
Greg reported that he, Damian Emerick, and Mickey Wolfe would be meeting the next morning (December 4) to finalize the picture layout for the upcoming NFD yearbook. Greg also advised that Pierce had won the bid for the decon/rehab rescue-style truck, in addition to a new haz-mat spill truck. He stated more info would be forthcoming when the deal is finalized.

NOVEMBER 30 - From Captain Joe Sperli, Engine 7
The new E-One rescue was placed in service. Its first run was at 15:45 hours, on a Signal 8 for Box 2217. It was reported to be an MVA in front of Saint Benedict's, at 520 King Boulevard, between Springfield Avenue and William Street. It turned out to be a minor accident and was made a Signal 305 for Engine 7.

NOVEMBER 30 - From Captain Carl Wendt, Rescue 1
The below message is self-explanatory. Please pass it on to anyone you know who may have been an officer, or fireman, in Rescue 1:

NOVEMBER 25 - From Deputy Chief Tom Reiss
Hi, all. Today was the last day of duty for Deputy Chief Tom Reiss. As of midnight, Monday, November 30, he will be officially retired. Tom was appointed as a fireman December 19, 1979, and over the years, rose to the rank of Deputy Chief. At one point, he was even being considered for appointment as Chief of Department. Tom has always been at the busy end of things, serving with some of the city's busiest fire companies. He had a close call at a fire on Elizabeth Avenue where he was forced to bail out of a third-floor window. He healed up and got back on the horse. I've known Tom for most of his career, and he has been a good friend to me, as well as the the Newark Fire History website. In Tom's words: "It has been a great run and I will miss it. But a new life begins today, let's see where it goes." I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Tom a long, healthy, and happy retirement. Thank you for all your help, Bro. You helped make NFH what it is. I'll miss your help, but I think you well deserve the rest... you bloody well earned it. Hopefully, you'll continue to share some of your memories with us. I'll keep in touch with ya. A tip o' the ol' NFH high-eagle leather, and may God Bless.

OCTOBER 27 - From Battalion Chief Greg Sereico, with additional info from Frank Martucci
Box 4448 was struck for a fire involving an occupied, 75-by-100-foot, three-story, frame tenement, at Springfield Avenue and South 13th Street. Greg sent along these pictures of the Signal 11 fire. Thanx, chief!

OCTOBER 21 - From Battalion Chief Greg Sereico
It was an interesting day in the City of Newark. At 12:35 hours, the warble tones sounded reporting a fire at 86 South 13th Street, between 9th and Gould Avenues.

Dispatch added that they were receiving numerous calls and that there were possible people trapped in the structure. Headquarters 1E arrived on the scene, and Deputy Chief Esparolini reported smoke in the area. He then reported a confirmed fire at the above location.

Members performed an aggressive interior attack and after a primary search reported that there were no civilians in the structure. A second alarm was transmitted for this fire and all members were needed to control the blaze.

While members were battling the first fire, the warble tones were again sounded reporting a working fire at 9th Avenue and South 9th Street, just a few blocks from the first fire.

This fire was reported by off duty Fireman Joseph Cuccolo, who was on his way to buff the first fire. After he notified fire dispatch via his cell phone, a civilian informed him that there was an elderly woman in the building. Without thinking about his own safety, he entered through the rear door, searched, located and removed the elderly civilian victim.

Off duty fireman, Donnell Lockhart, who was also at the South 13th Street fire, observed the fire on 9th Avenue. He immediately jumped into Engine 12, which was on the scene of the first fire, but not committed. The crew was inside the first fire operating. He, along with off-duty fireman Tom Hodges and NFU President Charles West, jumped onto Engine 12 and responded the three blocks to the second fire.

Off-duty fireman Joe Gethard, who was on the scene in his off-duty job at College Hospital EMS, used a 1-3/4-inch line off of Engine 12 between the main fire building and Exposure B, protecting the building from becoming involved. The announced response for the second fire was Engines 27, 29, 13, and 16, and Trucks 8 and 10.

With the distance they were responding from, the actions of the above listed firemen prevented the fire from completely involving Exposures B and D. Reportedly, the person who started the first fire, set the second fire. At this time this fact is just speculation.

The members of the Newark Fire Department performed their jobs in the highest tradition of the fire department.

OCTOBER 6 - From Frank Martucci
At about 22:00 hours, a two-alarm fire gutted a vacant, boarded-up, 2-1/2-story frame dwelling at 214 Smith Street, between South Orange Avenue and Rockland Terrace. First-due units found fire through the roof on arrival, with a heavy exposure problem, prompting an immediate request for a second alarm. A Signal 100 was transmitted, indicating a strong suspicion of arson.