Fire Companies from surrounding townships participated in the annual Pipeline Drill held at the Horse Park of NJ in Allentown. Each year the Western Monmouth Pipeline Taskforce hone their skills by laying between a half mile to 1 mile of LDH. The drill requires drafting from a pond and filling a nearby Equestrian course with approximately 90,000 gallons to a height of 16 inches. The water course will be used for an annual Equestrian competition scheduled in early May. The Taskforce consisted of 5 Engines and laid 2,900 feet of LDH.

On April 8, 2013 Station 16-1 was dispatched to Siloam Rd. for an MVA rollover with entrapment. 1st Asst Chief 16-1-67 established command with vehicle on drivers side against tree. 16-1-67 put first arriving engine 16-1-79 to work with size up of patient removal. Heavy Rescue 16-1-87 arrived moments later and attended to stabilization as 16-1-79 removed windshield for Firefighter/EMT to perform patient assessment. Both crews worked together using Holmatro cutters and Sawzall to remove roof. Crews then assisted MONOC with patient removal. Great job 16-1!!!!!

Chief Wayne Prochnow hosts the 2013 Chief's dinner to show his appreciation to the Firefighters under his command as well surrounding townships that provide mutual to Freehold Township.

16-1 Firefighters and Ladies Aux completed CPR training for adults, children and infants. Thank you to our 16-1 EMT/Firefighter Instructor Shyamal Joshi with assistance from 16-1 EMT/Firefighter Joe Colon and Austin Frazette. 

Freehold Twp Ind Fire Company wishes everyone a Safe and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

A home fire impacts the life of an American family every 85 seconds. By providing early warning and critical extra seconds to escape, smoke alarms cut in half your family’s risk of dying in a home fire, but only IF they work. Make a lifesaving change in your household by changing the batteries in your smoke detector to ensure it works.  March 10, 2013 at 02:00 AM we will set our clocks one hour forward for daylight savings time.  Freehold Twp Ind wants to remind you that this is a great time to change your smoke detector battery as well.  A smoke detector should be located on every level of the home and within each sleeping area.

Colts Neck – NJ Firefighters from around the county met in Colts Neck for the annual Monmouth County Firefighters Competition. On this hot day the teams were competing in five individual events and an overall ranking. The first event was hose laying, with Freehold Boro taking first place. They were followed by Shrewsbury and Hazlet. Jamesburg won the hose and ladder event followed by Morganville and Shrewsbury. Next was the busted hose, with Hazlet in first place. They were followed by Freehold Township Independent Fire Company and Shrewsbury. East Freehold took top honors in water polo, followed by their competitors from Hazlet with Farmingdale bringing home a third place finish. The fifth and final event was the Ladies Bucket Brigade, which was won by Holmdel. Shrewsbury finished in second place followed by Freehold Boro in third. At the end of the day, Hazlet was the overall points leader taking home bragging rights and the big trophy. Coming in at second was Freehold Boro and Shrewsbury right behind as the third place winner. Overall it was a great day of friendly yet heated competition. Many of these companies when not competing can be seen providing mutual aid for one another.

Freehold – NJ The Freehold Township Independent Fire Co. No. 1, Station 16-1, is going strong for almost 50 years. The department has been fortunate enough to attract regular members as well as Junior members. The company has had a successful recruitment program at the local high school attracting young adults, 16 – 18 years of age. In addition to the fire companies monthly drill and six extra extrication recertifications, which the Juniors do actively participate in, they are also attending a monthly drill at the Monmouth County Fire Academy along with one monthly in house Junior Drill. A common drill performed by the Juniors is the Two Minute Drill, where the members must remove there shoes and don all turnout gear and have their air pack connected to the SCBA mask and go on air. The Juniors are not just racing the clock; they race one another for bragging rights. Another common evolution is where the individuals must replace their air cylinder while still wearing their mask while holding their breath simulating the bottle running out of air. The skills learned as a Junior will prepare them for the Firefighter academy and real world scenarios.

Memorial Day is much more than getting together with friends for a bar-b-que, it’s a day to honor those who have made the supreme sacrifice. Firefighters from the Freehold Township Independent Fire Co. #1, Station 16-1, start their day with a prayer service to honor fallen brothers. Frank Simacek, Company Chaplain and Life Member, starts the service with a prayer. He is followed by John Marcondes, President, reciting the Fireman’s Prayer. The service concludes with Wayne Prochnow, Chief, sounding the bell for those members who have answered their final alarm. The department then joins other fire companies from Monmouth County at the Memorial Day Parade in Freehold Boro.

Several firefighters from the Freehold Twp. Independent Fire Co. have recently graduated from the Monmouth County Fire Academy. Firefighters Austin Frazette, Drew Lubber, Frank Priolo and Frank Santore have recently graduated as “Fire Fighters” leaving their “Probie” status behind them. We wish them good luck. They will make us proud.

Sayreville, NJ – Station 16-1 and 19-2, respond to a working fire in a “taxpayer” with a possible victim. It’s reported the fire is in the basement. This was the call the firefighters from the 2 mutual aid companies heard when operating at a recent drill. Companies from the Freehold Twp. Independent Fire Co. and the Adelphia Fire Co. recently conducted a mutual aid drill at the Middlesex County Fire Academy. The crews went through three evolutions and three different scenarios, Engine Company attacking the fire, Truck Company performing ventilation and the Rescue Company conducting the search and rescue. These two Monmouth County companies routinely work with one another and took advantage of the opportunity to train with one another. There is also a unique relationship between these groups of firefighters; Wayne Prochnow, the Chief of the Freehold Twp. Independent Fire Co. is also the proud father of Brian Prochnow, the Chief of the Adelphia Fire Co..

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