Dedication of Memorial for Our Deceased Firefighters

May 30th - At 1000, CVFC conducted its annual Memorial Day services.  However, in addition to the annual service, we also dedicated a new memorial to our deceased firefighters.  Special thanks goes out to the Franklin Township High School Jr ROTC, and the friends and families of our fallen soldiers and firefighters. Also a special thank you to Engine Captain Middleton and Engine Lt. Natal for all their hard work on the memorial. For more info, check out the CVFC Memorial Page.

The members of CVFC lined up during the ceremony	The final result of the 5 year project

9 Firefighters Attend Harrisburg Fire Expo 2005

May 20th - At 0600, 9 firefighters, ranging from a probie with 5 months experience at Station 25 to a 48 year veteran of the fire service, departed Franklin Township in Car 25 and Squad 25, with the destination being the Harrisburg Fire Expo, in Harrisburg Pa.  Breakfast and dinner were provided by the department at two restaurants delicious restaurants highly recommended by Asst. Chief Toth.  We spent 7 hours at the convention, touring the new apparatus designs, checking out the new technologies, and trying out new products that various companies were selling.  A good time was had by all who attended.

Rescue 25 First Due on Minivan Vs. Tree

May 20th - At 0209, District 3 was dispatched for a reported motor vehicle crash with entrapment. Car 25 (Chief Ries) responded to the scene, and Rescue 25 responded under the command of Captain Middleton. Upon the arrival of the Rescue, Chief Ries advised Captain Middleton that they would need to use the tools to gain entry to the patient. The crew of the Rescue used the spreaders to pop the door, and extricate the patient, who was then turned over to EMS. Engine 274 stood by with a charged line protecting the crew of Rescue 25 as they worked to free the patient. Car 25 was the Incident Commander.

Tower Operations Training

May 16th - Before our Department meeting, Assistant Chief Toth decided that it was a nice day and that we should hold a brief training session for our ladder tower operators, and see who could properly put the bucket in the proper position for roof operations. The competition was between Truck Captain Inzano, Truck Lt. Wilson, and Engineer Amos. Eng. Amos went first, followed by Lt. Wilson.  However, when it was Captain Inzano's turn, he used a ringer.  Engineer Pinnella was driving in his place, with Capt. Inzano riding as officer.  Eng. Pinnella has the bucket on the roof in less than 2 minutes, and that time was better than both Eng. Amos and Lt. Wilson.  A friendly competition ensued, with the other ladder drivers trying to beat Eng. Pinnella's time after the business meeting was over.

3rd Alarm Assignment District 1 Commercial Structure Fire

May 13th - At 0144, Station 25 was requested to send 1 engine mutual aid to 260 Davidson Ave, The Summerfield Suites, in Fire District #1 for the commercial structure fire with people reported as trapped inside. Engine 251 responded with Driver/Engineer Pinnella, Officer Truck Lt. Wilson, and crew of Truck Captain Inzano, Engine Captain Middleton, and FF Diaz. Station 25 also had a crew for Ladder 25, consisting of Driver/Engineer Amos, Officer Chief Ries, crew of Engine Lt. Natal, FF/EMT Greenhaus and FF Handzo, should the truck have been requested to respond along with the engine. For more information, check out the article written in The Home News Tribune.

It's a Crappy Job, But Someone Needs to Do It

May 11th - At 2115, Stations 25 and 27 were dispatched for a reported Porta-John fire next to Station 27. Engine 253 responded with Driver/Engineer Amos, Officer FF Whittaker, FF Handzo, FF Sudo and FF/EMT Greenhaus. Upon the arrival of Engine 253, they found a Porta-John fully involved. FF Whittaker established East Franklin Command, and the crew began to pull a line to put water on the fire. Ladder 25 responded with a crew of 5 under the command of Capt. Middleton. Ladder 25 arrived just as the fire was being knocked down, with Car 27A arriving right before them. The Engine crew put of the fire, and all Station 25 crews cleared the scene by 2135.

CVFC Firefighters Make Life Saving Rescue

May 6th - At 11:10am, Lt. Angel Natal and FF Keith Burton were in New Brunswick to get the tire changed on Angel's car. Unfortunately for Angel, they never made it there. However that was good news because Angel and Keith saw smoke and followed it to find a fully involved structure fire, with people still trapped on the second floor. Using a ladder from a roofers pickup truck, they laddered the second story of the structure, and allowed the 3 trapped residents to escape. The fire ended up going two alarms, with Ladder 25, under the command of Truck Captain Inzano, being requested to respond into New Brunswick. Ladder 25 was release from the city after 3 hours. For additional information, you can view the article published in the Home News Tribune.

An photo of the house after the fire had been extinguished	FF Burton and Engine Lt. Natal

3 New Members & 1 Returning Face Joins Station 25

May 5th - Over the past 6 months, 4 new faces have started appearing at Community VFC. Dan Greenhaus, who resides in New Brunswick, works as a PC Support Specialist in Piscataway and previously was a member of the East Brunswick Independent Fire Company since 1998. Dan is also an EMT and a member of the East Brunswick Rescue Squad. Matt Reed is a returning face to Station 25. He had been a member of Community in the past, but moved to Virginia several years ago and joined as a firefighter with Chesterfield County Fire & EMS. He has since moved back to Somerset County, and rejoined CVFC. Brian Sudo is a former junior firefighter at Community, and has since became a senior firefighter and is currently enrolled in Firefighter I at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy. Rob Handzo is a full time Rutgers University student, majoring in Criminal Justice. Rob is also currently enrolled in Firefighter I at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy.

right to left: Dan Greenhaus, Matt Reed, Brian Sudo, Rob Handzo

Another CVFC Member joins FDNY

May 2nd - It is with great pleasure that we announce that Truck Company Firefighter/EMT Keith Brothers has been hired by FDNY. After working as a part-time career firefighter and part time EMT in Jersey City, Keith was hired as a full time firefighter for the City of New York. We at Station 25 want to wish Keith good luck and a long and exciting career in the New York City Fire Department.