Volunteer To Be A Local Firefighter -
Stop At Any Firehouse On A Thursday Evening 7:30pm. To 9pm. or Sunday 9am. to 11am.


Fire Chief   Wade Crowley

First Assistant   Thomas Brown

Second Assistant   Steve Kucivic

Department Engineer   Mark Batty

Department Assistant Engineer   Scott Wallis

Department Secretary   Chris Tacinelli, James Poland

Department Treasurer   Jim Franco


Ask for the Fire Chief   973-398-0062


The Hopatcong Fire Department Website:  hopatcongfiredepartment.org


Hopatcong Fire Department is a Volunteer Fire Department Consisting of Three Companies:


Northwood Engine Co. #2 Located at the Intersection of Maxim Drive and Indian Trail

Captain Kevin Bourke

Lieutenant Robert Tallaksen

Engineer Michael Rahill

Asst. Engineers Mark D’Ambrosi

President James Vanderhoof


Mailing Address: P.O. Box 25, Glasser, NJ 07837

Telephone Number: 973-770-1929

Email: www.hopatcongfd.com


Defiance Engine Co. #3 Located at the Intersection of Hopatchung Rd. and Durban Ave.

Captain John Wilkerson

Lieutenant John Russamano

Engineer Sean Pond

Asst. Engineers Justin Spurvey, Glen Handlin

President Frank Steinberg


Mailing Address: P.O.Box 1015, Hopatcong, NJ 07843

Telephone Number: 973-398-0030

Email: www.hopatcongfire3.org


Hopatcong Hills Fire & Rescue Co. #4 Located at the Intersection of Tulane Tr. & Jefferson Tr.

Captain Anthony Rosado

Lieutenant Kim Dubis

Engineer Jim Madar

Asst. Engineer Ed Bedricki, Rob Gomez

President Jim Poland


Mailing Address: P.O. Box 724, Hopatcong, NJ 07843

Telephone Number: 973-398-1612


At full strength there are 120 firefighters (40 in each company). The fire department has fire
rescue, fire suppression, vehicle extrication, ice and water rescue, confined space rescue, and FAST Team capabilities. The officers of the fire department are a Fire Chief, two Assistant Chief's and a Chief Engineer who oversees the operation and maintenance of the fire equipment. There is a departmental Secretary and Treasurer for the fire department's administrative business. Each fire company has a Captain, Lieutenant, Engineer and two Assistant Engineers as line officers. a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sergeant at Arms makes up the administrative part of the company. The three companies combined have 13 pieces of fire fighting apparatus
among them and one command vehicle.


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When Fire Strikes: Some Safety Suggestions:


(1) Get Out
Fire grows at amazing speed. If a fire starts, just get out quickly. Don't stop for anything. Once you are safely outside, call the fire department. Know two ways out of every room. Smoke or flames may block one way. Stay Out. Call 911 from a cell phone or from a neighbor.


(2) Crawl Low If You Encounter Smoke
If you encounter smoke while escaping, use your second way out. If you must escape
through smoke, crawl or get as low as you can. More breathable air will be near the ground
under the smoke.


(3) Before You Open a Door, Test the Door to Determine If the Fire is on the Other Side
If you encounter smoke while escaping, use your second way out. If you must escape
through smoke, crawl or get as low as you can. More breathable air will be near the ground
under the smoke.

Before opening a door, make sure there is no fire on the other side. Reach up high, and use the back of your hand to touch the door, the doorknob, and the space between the door and the frame. If any of these feels hot, use your second way out. If everything feels cool, open the door carefully so that you can slam it shut if heat or smoke rushes in.


(4) Stop, Drop, and Roll
If you cannot get out safely, close all doors between you and the fire and smoke. Stuff cracks around doors and cover all vents to keep smoke out. If there is a telephone in the room or you have a cell phone with you, call 911, report the fire, and tell them exactly where you are trapped. If possible, signal by waving a light-colored cloth.


(5) If You Are Trapped
If your clothes catch fire, do not run. Drop to the ground, and roll over and over to smother the flames, covering your face with your hands. If your disability would prevent you from doing this, then try to keep a fire-resistant blanket or rug nearby, which, in case of a fire, you or someone
else could use to smother the flames. Do not try to smother flames with your hands.
Cool the burn with water and call for help.


(5) Take Burns Seriously
Burns are often more serious than they originally appear. Run cool water over a burn for
10 to 15 minutes. Never apply ice. Never put butter or any other grease on a burn. They trap the heat in the skin. If the burned skin blisters or is charred, see a doctor immediately. Inform your doctor about burns that begin to look infected.


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Prevent fires:

(1) Install Alarms
In the event of fire smoke alarms are your best early warning system. About two-thirds of the
U.S, residential fire deaths occur in the 18% of homes without smoke alarms. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. If you sleep with the door closed, install one inside your sleeping area as well. Most fatal fires at home occur while people sleep.

Properly maintain your alarms. Test the alarms every month and replace batteries once a year,
or whenever an alarm begins to "chirp", signaling low battery power. Pick a day that is easily remembered like your birthday or January first, as the day for battery replacement. Don't remove a smoke alarm's battery for another use � an inoperative alarm won't save your life. Replace alarms that are more than 10 years old. For more complete home protection, consider installing carbon monoxide detectors or an automatic fire sprinkler system.


(2) Plan and Practice Your Escape
If a fire occurs in your home, you have to get out fast. Sit down now with your family and
work out an escape plan in advance. Be sure that everyone knows at least two unobstructed exits - including windows - in every room. (If you live in an apartment building, use the stairs, not the elevator to escape from fire.) Decide on a meeting place outside. Have your entire household practice your escape plan at least twice a year.


(3) Matches - Lighter - Smoking
Matches and lighters are for adults, not children. Store them in places not accessible to children - up high out of sight and reach, or in locked areas. Use only child-resistant lighters. Teach children that matches and lighters aren't toys. They are tools, for grown-ups only. Ask young children to tell a grown-up when they find matches or lighters. Ask older children who find matches and lighters to bring them to an adult immediately.

In the United States careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths. Smoking when you are drowsy or in bed could lead to a fire and be fatal. Be particularly cautious if you take a medication that will produce drowsiness. If you smoke, provide large, deep, non-tip ashtrays. Empty the ashtray in a safe container, such as a metal can. Soaking butts with water before discarding them will provide added protection. Before going to sleep or leaving home after someone has been smoking, check your home, especially under cushions and around upholstered furniture for smoldering cigarettes.


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(4) Cook Safely - Inside and Outside
Never leave cooking unattended. NEVER. Stay near cooking so you can monitor it closely. Frying foods can be especially hazardous. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles. Stoves
are not for storage. Items placed on adjacent counter areas should be free of items that might start or contribute to a fire. Things do get knocked over or spilled. When cooking wear clothing with short, rolled-up, or tight fitting sleeves. Loose sleeves, and flowing robes or aprons could touch a burner, catching fire. Turn pot handles inward on the stove so you won't bump them and so children can't grab them. Severe burns can result when pots are tipped over, even if a fire does
not result. Establish a "kid-free" area around your kitchen range or outside grill. In the event of a "grease fire" in a pan, slide a lid over the pan. That will smother the flames. Turn off the heat source. Leave the lid on the pan until the pan is cool. Do not put aluminum foil or other metals
in a microwave oven.


(5) Space Heaters
Keep portable heaters and space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including your clothing. When clothing comes in contact with some heaters, the clothing may ignite. Establish a "kid-free" area around the heater. Keep pets away from heaters. Turn heaters off when you leave home or go to sleep. Follow the manufacturers' instructions for installing, operating, refueling, and cleaning your space heater.


(6) Electric Devices
Electric devices that are smoking or producing an unusual smell should be unplugged immediately. Have the device serviced before you try to use it again. Cracked or frayed electric cords should be replaced. Don't overload extension cords. Keep extension cords out of trafficked areas and avoid running any cords under rugs. Some buildings still have fuse boxes. The ratings for fuses and circuit breakers are designed based on the wiring in the building. Tampering with them such as using an improper fuse size could result in wires overheating and cause a fire.
Don't tamper with them nor use improper-size fuses.


For More Information on Fire Prevention
Visit the Links to Websites Listed at the "Fire Prevention Bureau"


For More Information on Fire Prevention
Visit the Links to Websites Listed at the "Fire Prevention Bureau"

U.S. Fire Administration Kid's Page
Interesting Website for Children.

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/

There are Numerous Children's Websites Listed Under "Organizations"
at the Top of the Menu.


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