NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

Working Fire Radio Transcript
April 27, 1980

The following is a transcript of actual radio transmissions that occurred on April 27, 1980, for a fire involving the Ringel Bros. Paper Co., at 183 Verona Avenue, between Summer and Woodside Avenues. The fire went to two alarms. The original alarm transmission was missed, and the transcript picks up with Battalion 3 arriving at the scene. Tour 2 was on duty.

NOTE: The entries highlighted in yellow are field transmissions.

Battalion 3 is on the scene. We have a working fire in a three-story factory building. This is a Signal 11.

Battalion 3, a Signal 11 on 3527. 21:30, Dispatcher 8-1.

Tactical 1 is responding to, uh, Summer and Verona.

Okay, Tac 1.

28 to Battalion 3, if you’re gettin’ a lot of calls, we have a heavy smoke condition from this fire all up thorough North Newark.

28, repeat?

We have a heavy smoke condition in this area; people are stoppin’ us all up and down the street from this fire. In the North Newark area there is a heavy smoke condition.

Uh, received, 28. 2131.

Uh, Deputy 2, what was 28’s message?

Uh, heavy smoke condition from that factory is, is spreading up toward North Newark area.

Uh, Deputy 2 received.

Battalion 3 to Headquarters, EMERGENCY!

Battalion 3.

Transmit a second alarm for this fire!

Second alarm, 3527, 21:32.

Battalion 3 to Headquarters.

Battalion 3.

Have, uh, the second alarm companies come in on, on the other side, on Sylvan Avenue.

Respond by way of Sylvan Avenue… received.

(Bell & Siren Toner)

Battalion 3 to Engine 15.

15.

Stretch a feed line into the snorkel.

(3 Tones) Attention Engines 4, 7, 11, and 1, Truck 2, Battalion 1; radio alarm, second alarm, Station 3527. Fire reported at Summer and Verona Avenues. That’s a radio alarm, second alarm, Station 3527. Summer and Verona Avenues. All second-alarm units respond in by way of Sylvan Avenue, to Summer Avenue. Repeat, all second-alarm units respond in by way of Sylvan Avenue, to Summer Avenue. 2132, Dispatcher 8-1.

Battalion 3 to Headquarters.

Battalion 3.

Notify those responding companies on the second we’re havin’ a problem with water here. We can’t get a water supply.

Received, Battalion 3.

Uh, Deputy 2 is on the scene. Notify the Water Department about this situation.

We’ve notified ‘em; we’ll call ’em again, chief.

Engine 6 to Headquarters.

Engine 6.

We could find nothing there; Engine 6 available.

Okay, received, Engine 6. Attention, 4747, a Signal 300. 2135, Dispatcher 8-1.

Battalion 1 is responding on the second alarm to Summer and Verona.

Received, Battalion 1.

Special Service responding.

Okay, Special Service.

Battalion 3 to Engine 28!

Battalion 3 to Engine 28!

Engine 28!

Wet Engine 15’s line!

Repeat?

Battalion 3 to Engine 28!

(Tone) Headquarters to Engine 6.

Engine 6.

6, we’re gonna transmit a Signal 9 for 1st Avenue and North 7th Street. Supposed to be smoke coming from the Coca-Cola factory parking lot, in that area.

6 received and responding.

21:38.

Headquarters 14 responding to the second alarm.

Okay, Headquarters 14.

Headquarters 5 responding to the second alarm fire.

Deputy 2 to Battalion 1.

Battalion 1.

Battalion 1.

Helicopter 1 responding.

Battalion 1 to Deputy 2, I didn’t receive your message.

Come into Sylvan Avenue side. Let me know what you got over there.

Battalion 1, received. We’ll check the Sylvan Avenue side of the fire.

Received.

(3 Tones) Attention Engines 6 and 12, Truck 11, Battalion 4: telephone alarm, Signal 9, Station 3435.

Smoke condition reported at the Coca-Cola Bottling Works, 1st Avenue and North 7th. That’s a telephone alarm, Signal 9, Station 3435. Smoke condition reported at the Coca-Cola Bottling Works, 1st Avenue and North 7th. 2140, Dispatcher 8-1.

Battalion 4 is responding on a Signal 9 to 1st Avenue and North 7th Street.

Okay, Battalion 4. This is supposed to be reported coming from the parking lot area.

Battalion 4 received.

2140.

Battalion 1 to Deputy 1.

Battalion 1 to Deputy 2.

…2

Uh, the back of this fire is not on Sylvan Avenue. The back of this fire is on the, uh, railroad, uh, right-of-way, here. From what I can see, uh, you got no serious, eh, exposure problem in the rear. The wind seems to be blowing in your direction. Uh, a part of the roof is already caved in. We just watched in go in from back here… it’s through the roof.

Deputy 2 received.

I’ll check it out and see if we can get, uh, some type of, uh, line to work in the back here.

Uh, very good.

(Tone) Headquarters to Battalion 1.

Headquarters calling Battalion 1.

…1

Are you gonna be anywhere near those railroad tracks? We’ll contact the railroad.

Notify them ‘cause they’re gonna work right along side them.

Okay, received. 2141.

Battalion 1 to Deputy 1.

Deputy 2, Jim.

Uh, Deputy 2… uh, have you got lines in that three-story building to the, uh, east of the main fire building?

Battalion 1 to Deputy 2.

Rescue 1 to the engine on, uh, 28… wet the two-and-a-half.

Uh, Battalion 1 to Deputy 2.

Battalion 1 to Headquarters!

Battalion 1.

Uh, Battalion 1 to Deputy 2. Tell him we got lines stretched across the railroad tracks on this side. Uh, we need ya to get the, uh, railroad traffic stopped both ways on this track.

Okay… Battalion 1, stand by there because we’re contacting the railroad now.

Truck 11 on the scene Coca-Cola, investigating; nothing showing.

…talion 1 to Headquarters.

Battalion 1.

Yeah, also notify Public Service; we got a lot of, uh, power lines runnin’ through here; I don’t know whether they’re Public Service or railroad wires. Have ‘em get Public Service electric to check this out.

Okay. P.S. electric’s already been notified.

Battalion 1 to Deputy 2.

Battalion 3 to Engine 28!

28.

Wet Rescue 1’s line!

28 received.

Battalion 1 to Headquarters.

Battalion 1.

Have you contacted the, uh, railroad people?

Affirmative. They’re, uh, beginning to re-route their traffic now, and they’ll give us a call back momentarily when it’s clear.

Advise them they we got lines… several lines… running across this track and there’s men working on the track. I want all traffic stopped on this line comin’ both ways. Advise them of that.

Received, Battalion 1. They’ve already been advised of that.

Battalion 4 is on the scene at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. Uh, we’re checking out the rear yard.

Battalion 4 on the scene at 21:47.

Battalion 3 to Engine 7!

Engine 7!

Ya got that feed comin’ in?

You can hook it up to that or 15!

Battalion 1 to Deputy 2.

Battalion 1 to Headquarters.

Battalion 1.

See if you can raise Deputy 2. Ask him if he has that, eh, three-story building to the east of the fire building… directly to the east of the fire building… covered for exposure.

Deputy 2 to Battalio…

Battalion 1 to Headquarters, advise Deputy 2 he’s breaking up… I can’t receive any of his message.

Headquarters to Deputy 2, change your location… your message is breaking up.

Deputy 2 to Headquarters.

Uh, Deputy 2, uh, Battalion 1, uh, advised that the fire is spreading toward an exposure building on the east side of the factory.

Uh, apprise Battalion 1 that I’m aware of the situation… we checked the building out… everything is under control at this time.

Uh, Battalion 1 to Deputy 2, uh, the, uh, west side of that building, too… ya got a lotta sparks droppin’ on the roof of that building. There’s a fire wall in between the property here, but there’s sparks droppin’. We gotta get somebody up on the roof of that building.

Deputy 2 to Battalion 1. We got the, uh, Truck 6 snorkel is operating there to protect that building. Everything is alright at this time.

Battalion 4 to Headquarters.

Battalion 4.

There’s no sign of fire at the Coke plant. I’m gonna hold 11 Truck…we’re gonna go over the fence. There’s a truck in the middle of the yard looks like it was broken into. Uh, make it a 3 oooohh 8, but I’ll hold, uh, 11 Truck for a while.

Okay, Battalion 4.

Truck 2 to Battalion 1

(Tone) Attention, 3435, Signal 308, Engine 6, Truck 11, Battalion 4. 21:49, Dispatcher 8-1.

Truck 2 to Battalion 1.

(Tone) Headquarters to Battalion 1.

(Tone) Headquarters calling Battalion 1.

Battalion 1.

Engine 6 to Headquarters.

Stand by 6 Engine.

(2 Tones) Signal 5, Truck 4.

Engine 6, come in.

Engine 6 available.

Received, 6. Available at 21:51.

(2 Tones) Signal 5, Engine 8.

Engine 28 to Engine 15.

Engine 28 to Engine 15.

Engine 15.

Uh, is it alright if I cut down one of your lines… feed lines?

Engine 15 received.

Is it alright?

Received.

(2 Tones) Signal 5, Engine 17.

Battalion 4 to Headquarters.