14 JUNE 2009 - Members of the Bayview Vol. Fire Co. (Station 26-4) formally housed their new KME 102' platform, Tower 49, today.

Festivities began at approximately 13:00 hours with a small parade down 6th Ave. from Tess Conover Dr. to the 6th Ave. station  Members marched in full dress uniform in front of the new Tower 49, which was driven by Company President Rick Smith.

The truck was blessed by the Rev. Thomas Sweeny.

Chief Joe Blazo broke a bottle of champagne on the front bumper.

The members then ceremoniously pushed the new 2008 ladder truck into it's bay.

The celebration included a live band and a bouncy firetruck for the kids.

Refreshments included soda, beer, and food provided by Outback Steakhouse!

Congratulations and best wishes to the Officers and Members of the Bayview Vol. Fire Co. (Station 26-4).

A sincere Thank You for a job well done to the apparatus committee who spent countless hours working on the truck.

The event was well attended.

Thanks very much to the Galloway Township Police Department for blocking off 6th Ave. for the parade and to the Police Explorers for handling the parking duties.

6 JUNE 2009 - At approximately 09:00 hours, members from Station 26-3 conducted their semi-annual coin drop.  The company conducts the coin drops as it does not have the wherewithal to conduct breakfasts, dinners, or other similar fundraisers.  Members responded to a pole fire during the fund raiser.   The Company thanks all of those who supported us today!  Members were out at the intersection until 16:00 or so.

Thanks very much to Salad Works of Jim Leeds Rd. in Galloway for dropping off lunch for us, free of charge!

23 MAY 2009 - At approximately 21:42 hours, Stations 26-3 and 26-2 were dispatched to what would become 438 S. Upas Ave. for a reported structure fire.  Upon arrival, Chief 300 reported fire and smoke showing from the second floor and requested a FAST team and cover up for Station 26-3.  All occupants had safely evacuated the home.  Station 26-5 covered Station 26-3 during the incident.  Engine 35 established a water supplly from the hydrant at Upas and Hayes Aves.  Engine 35 made entrance through the front door.  The engine crew searched all bedrooms for fire before finding a small contents fire in the A side bedroom.  Ladder 36 established a 2nd method of egress with its aerial and provided positive pressure ventilation when requested.  Station 26-4's FAST team was cancelled prior to arrival.  Station 26-2 was returned to service after about 1 hour into the incident.   The fire is under investigation by the Galloway Township Fire Investigators Office.  All Station 26-3 units were back in service by 00:15 hours.

22 MAY 2009 - At approximately 08:45 hours, Station 26-3 was dispatched to Rt. 30 & Church of the Assumption for an MVA with entrapment.  C26-300, Rescue 38, and Engine 35 responded.  Shortly thereafter, Station 26-3 was dispatched for an LZ assignment at the church.  Upon arrival, command found 1 person trapped in a vehicle that had been hit from behind.  R38 Removed both driver side doors and the B post.  The LZ was subsequently cancelled by EMS.  The patient was subsequently removed and transported to the hospital by Galloway EMS.  GTPD shut down Rt. 30 for the duration of the incident.  Station 26-3 units operated for approximately 1 hour.

11 MAY 2009 - At 19:00 hours, members representing all five GTFD fire companies attended electrical hazard safety hazard training conducted by several members of Atlantic City Electric.

The training was conducted at the Galloway municipal complex.

Firefighters learned the dangers of downed power lines, pulling meters, entering substations, etc.   They also learned just how their turnout gear and other firefighting equipment would fare against electricity.

Several demonstrations drove home the dangers of live power lines to First Responders.  A Powerpoint presentation was also conducted inside council chambers.

The entire GTFD thanks the members of the local IBEW for their time and expertise!

Members cleared the complex at approximately 20:30 hours.

11 MARCH 2009 - GTFD Chief Calimer announced today that Station 26-1 (Oceanville Vol. Fire Co.) has received bids for their new engine.

Bids will be opened during the March 24, 2009 Galloway Township Council meeting.

10 MARCH 2009 - Station 26-4 (Bayview Vol. Fire Co.) announced today that it will be holding a housing for their new 2008 KME rear-mounted platform, Tower 49.

Click below for more information and to purchase an ad in their ad book!

2 MARCH 2009 - At 09:20, Station 26-3 (Pomona) and Station 26-2 (Germania) were dispatched to a resident reported structure fire at 401 South Pomona Rd.

Responding firefighters dealt with nearly a foot of snow that had fallen over night and was still falling.

Station 26-4 (Bayview) was subsequently requested as the FAST Team.

Within a half hour of the initial alarm, the Incident Commander requested a General Alarm, bringing the remaining 2 GTFD companies to the scene..   Cover up assignments were also requested for all 5 stations.

First arriving Pomona units began an offensive interior attack, with heavy smoke and fire in the basement.  Due to the structure's balloon construction which allowed the fire to spread within the walls, conditions changed quickly.  All interior operations stopped and the evacuation signal was given.

Defensive exterior operations commenced utilizing 2 aerial master streams snd several hand lines and a deluge gun.

During the attack, the 1st floor collapsed and 3 firefighters were injured. 2 were transported by ambulance to Atlanticare Mainland Div and 1 to Atlanticare Trauma Center.

The home was completely destroyed and an excavator was requested to knock the structure down due to the unsafe condition.

Neighboring companies provided cover-up for the Galloway Stations.

Units stayed on location into the night to extinguish any remaining fire.

Pomona Rd was closed during the fire along with Koch Ave.

The fire is under investigation by the Galloway Twp. Fire Investigation Unit.

Other responding agencies included:  Galloway Twp. Police, Galloway Twp. EMS, Galloway Twp. Fire Investigation Unit, Red Cross, Atlantic City Electric, South Jersey Gas, Atlanticare EMS and Paramedics.

Asst Chief 26-31 was the Incident Commander for the fire.

12 FEBRUARY 2009 - At approximately 16:30 hours, Station 26-2 (Germania) was alerted to a reported woods fire in the area of Leipzig Ave. and Leibig Ave.

Upon arrival, Asst. Chief 26-21 requested station 26-3 (Pomona), Station 26-5 (South Egg Harbor), and the NJ State Forest Fire Service.  Station 18-5 (Hamilton Twp, Cologne) was subsequently requested to cover Station 26-2.

Approximately 40 acres were burnt in the fire which was fanned by 30 - 40 mph winds.

Fire units responded to protect homes in the area.

The NJ State Forest Fire Service was able to contain the blaze.

No homes were damaged. However, a fence was damaged.

The fire may have started due to an electrical issue with a pole.

The fire was placed under control within an hour.  Units remained on location for several hours.

No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported.

Chief Ron Garbutt (26-20) was the Incident Commander for the fire.

1 FEBRUARY 2009 - At approximately 05:22 hours, Station 26-4 (Bayview) and Station 26-1 (Oceanville) were alerted to a working structure fire at 60 Mattix Run.  Shortly thereafter, Station 26-3 (Pomona) was requested for the FAST team.

First arriving units found fire through the roof of the third story end unit.

Crews initially began the attack with 2 - 1 3/4 and a 2 1/2 handlines. Tower 49 was subsequently put into operation and completed the knockdown.

Shortly into operations, Station 26-3 (Pomona) was requested for a 2nd FAST team as the first team was placed in operation. This request brought Ladder 36 and Rescue 38.

All utilities to the building were shut off and all residents were safely evacuated.

No civililan or firefighter injuries or fatalities were reported.

Station 21 (Port Republic) covered Station 26-1, Station 8 covered Station 26-4A, and Station 26-2 covered Station 26-3 during the incident.

An EMS task force was requested.  Galloway Twp PD, Galloway Twp road dept, Galloway Twp Fire Investigators, the Red Cross, and Salvation Army also responded.

Bayview units were on scene until approximately 10:00 am for salvage and overhaul operations.

Station 26-4 (Bayview) Chief Blazo was the Incident Commander.

24 JANUARY 2009 - At approximately 07:50 hours, Station 26-4 (Bayview) was called to a motor vehicle crash at 40.4 northbound on the Garden State Parkway (GSP) for an extrication.

Shortly therafter, Station 26-3 was requested to provide a Landing Zone (LZ) for the Southstar medivac helicopter at the Atlantic City Rest Stop.

Rescue 26-38 was subsequently requested at the scene due to the difficulty of the extrication.

A total of 4 patients were removed from the vehicle.  2 patients were flown in 2 different helicopters to nearby Trauma Centers.

EMS units from Galloway Twp, Hamilton Twp, and Absecon responded to the incident.

All units cleared the scene at approximately 10:00 am.

23 JANUARY 2009 - Pomona (Station 26-3) Vol. Fire Co. has received a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The grant, in the amount of $132.335.00, is being used to purchase 22 new 4.5 air packs, upgrade 8 existing air packs, and a purchase and install a new 6000 P S I cascade system.

The equipment has been ordered and should be delivered shortly.

This is the first grant that the company has received.