After 30 years McDonalds was closed for a much needed facelift from July through December. In early January the new McDonalds was reopened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. On hand for the Ribbon Cutting ceremony was the Freehold Township Committee with Mayor Salkin, the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company #1, the Freehold First Aid Squad, Centra State Medical Center and the management staff from McDonalds.   

Immediately following the ribbon cutting, McDonalds presented a donation check to the Fire Company, First Aid Squad and Centra State. The McDonalds Operations Manager stated it’s very important for McDonalds to support the community.

The votes have been cast and the officers for Station 16-1 have been elected. We wish them well in their efforts to keep the people in Freehold Township safe. The Line Officers for next year are: Chief – Wayne Prochnow 1st Assistant Chief - Dan Spicuzza 2nd Assistant Chief – Bryan Zuccarelli Captain – Ralph Reifer Lieutenant – Craig Haas 2nd Lieutenant – Dan Petersen

The Executive Officers for next year are: President – John Marcondes Vice President - Shyamal Joshi Treasurer – Rob Gazic Assistant Treasurer – Kevin Keane Secretary – A.J. Story Trustees: Willie Mersereau Andrew Goontetileke Rob Douglas

The “District” Fire Station was the home of the recent Safety Day in Freehold Township. This event was to promote safety and fire prevention to the residents of Freehold Township.
Approximately 400 persons passed through the various displays and exhibits promoting safety. The displays and exhibits for the visitors included; Stop Drop and Roll, Target Shooting with a Fire Hose and the inside of an ambulance and fire trucks. Bicycle helmets were given to the children. Lunch and prizes were also available for the visitors.
The agencies participating in the event were the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company (Station 16-1), Freehold First Aid and the Freehold Township Police.

Fire Fighters from Station 16-1 responded to a record number of calls in the month August. During this month fire fighters had two major storms to deal with, one of which was Hurricane Irene. The total number of calls for the month was 291.
 
For Hurricane Irene all three fire stations and all apparatus was manned. The number of calls for Hurricane Irene alone was 131 with another 38 runs subsequent to the storm the following day. The assignments for the responding crews were: wires down, fire and CO alarms, electrical hazards with water in the basements, pumped basements, structural damage to homes, vehicle rescues and the smell of gas in the basement. While responding to an alarm, Engine 16-1-78 was struck by a large tree severely damaging the fire engine. Fortunately the crew was shaken up but not injured.
 
Due to flooding and water related issues in Essex County, the Monmouth County Tanker Task Force sent multiple tankers to assist firefighting efforts in the affected areas.   Station 16-1 is a member of this task force and sent a 3000 gallon tanker, 16-1-95, while keeping another tanker in the township if needed for a local response.

On September 11, 2011, Freehold Township will hold a memorial service at 10:00 a.m. at the
9-11 Memorial, located adjacent to Town Hall.
The ceremony will include wreath-laying during Amazing Grace, as well as during Taps.
Residents are encouraged to attend the memorial service and pay their respects for those that perished on that day.

FDNY
343
Box 8087
ALL GAVE SOME…SOME GAVE ALL


 

After months of training, the firefighters from Station 16-1 went up against their fellow Monmouth County firefighters at the Monmouth County Fair to compete in the Busted Hose event. Station 16-1 took top honors as the 1st place winner. 
 
When the annual Monmouth County Firefighters Competition took place at the Colts Neck Fire Department, Station 16-2 came in 2nd place in the Hose and Ladder event.
 
This type of competition is a great way for the firefighters to brush up on required skills to fight fires as well as interact with mutual aid fire companies within the county.

There are many areas of Western Monmouth County that do not have fire hydrants and rely on tenders (tankers) and Tanker Task Forces to supply water at a fire scene. The Freehold Township Independent Fire Co. is a member of a Tanker Task Force. The fire company operates two tenders: a 6000 gallon tractor trailer and a 3000 gallon straight job tanker to supply water when the Tanker Task Force is placed into operation. When the Tanker Task Force is activated, many surrounding area fire companies will be requested to supply a tanker.

 
When operating a fire scene, portable ponds may be established where water can be emptied from a tender and then used to supply an engine that will pump the water to other operating apparatus or hand lines. In a drill conducted by Station 16-1, two tankers were used to supply water to an engine that pumped the water to a Ladder Tower.

Volunteer firefighters devote their time to protect you and your community. Duracell's Power Those Who Protect Us donation program lets you give back to these selfless heroes. When you purchase specially marked CopperTop packs, Duracell will make a battery donation to volunteer fire departments to power communication devices and life-saving equipment. Each pack contains a unique code, which you can enter to direct your battery donation to: Freehold Twp. Independent Fire Co. #1 Ste. 3587, PMB 302 Freehold, NJ 07728

Congratulations to our officers for the new year: 2011 LINE OFFICERS: Chief: Tom Luongo, 1st Assistant Chief: Wayne Prochnow, 2nd Assistant Chief: Dan Spicuzza, Captain: Bryan Zuccarelli, Lieutenant: Ken Lucas, 2nd Lieutenant: Craig Haas, 2011 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: President: AJ Story, Vice President: Shyamal Joshi, Secretary: Jensen Chundamala, Treasurer: John Marcondes, Assistant Treasurer: Robert Gazic, Trustee: Willie Mersereau, Trustee: Andrew Goonetileke, Trustee: Robert Douglas, Best of luck to all and thank you for your service to the station and the community at large.

Santa Drops in to say hello and give out gifts to the kids of station 16-1 during there Christmas party.

We recently came across some old pictures and newspaper clippings and just posted to photo albums. Go to Galleries " The Sixties" & "The Seventies" to view.

This year when the Freehold Independent Fire Company participated in the 136th Memorial Day Parade in Freehold Boro, it was done with the addition of two new trucks. The first new truck was 16-1-85, the Special Services Unit. The Second new vehicle was 16-1-95, the 3000 gallon tanker.
Each year before the parade, the fire company meets at the Smithburg Fire Station, located on Siloam Road, for a memorial service honoring their fallen brothers. 

Freehold, NJ – On May 20, 2010 the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company added a new tanker, 16-1-95, to the fleet.  This new truck will be stationed at the Georgia Road fire station and will also be part of the Monmouth County Tanker Task Force.
 
K.M.E. built the 3000 gallon elliptical tanker on an International 7600 SBA 6x4 chassis with a Cummins ISM 400 diesel engine.  Power is supplied to an Allison 4000EVS_P transmission. The tank has 2 side and 1 rear 10” Newton dumps.   The truck is also equipped with a Hale QMax-100 100 GPM single stage pump. 

On the evening of January 29, 2010 Station 16-1 was dispatched to the scene of a single vehicle motor vehicle accident when an SUV was driven into a home. The driver of the vehicle was transported to Centra State Medical Center.  The occupants of the home were not home at the time of the accident.

On January 28, 2010 Station 16-1 was dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving 2 car and a telephone pole. Upon his arrival, the Chief announced a working brush fire, approximately 100’ x 100’. Both the Chief and the 2nd Asst. Chief tried to slow the advance of the fire with water cans until the first due engine was able to stretch a line.
It appeared that the pole supporting power lines may have snapped due to heavy winds and a live wire may have come in contact with dry grass and brush causing the fire.