GLOUCESTER CITY FIRE DEPT. ENGINE 51 OPEN HOUSE

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (October 4, 2025) (CNBNEWS) –The dedicated officers and members of the Gloucester City Fire Department, Engine 51, warmly invite all residents to join them for a Open House and Fire Prevention Night on Tuesday, October 14th, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the firehouse, at the intersection of King and Monmouth Streets.

October is more than just a month on the calendar; it is honored as Fire Prevention Month throughout North America. Spearheaded by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), this observance aims to raise awareness about the importance of fire safety, particularly during Fire Prevention Week, which takes place during the first full week of October in remembrance of the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This month presents a crucial opportunity to educate our community on effective fire safety practices to help prevent fires and safeguard lives and property.

The purpose of Fire Prevention Month is to raise public awareness about fire safety and promote life-saving fire prevention practices in homes and businesses. The observance began in response to the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871, leading to the establishment of Fire Prevention Week in 1922.
Fire departments and the NFPA provide educational resources, fire safety tips, and encourage practices like checking smoke alarms, creating escape plans, and practicing fire drills.

WHY OCTOBER WAS CHOSEN

The colder months are approaching, which can increase fire risks, especially with more heating and cooking. And, it serves as a crucial reminder to check smoke alarms, review family escape plans, and implement overall home and workplace safety measures.

In years gone by, the Gloucester City Fire Department proudly hosted a parade, on a Friday night, showcasing the heroism of all fire departments in the South Jersey area. The streets would come alive as each fire department paraded down Broadway, their shiny fire trucks gleaming under the streetlights, sirens wailing, and horns blaring in a joyful cacophony. It was a breathtaking sight to behold, filled with the camaraderie of firefighters and the excitement of the community! Following the parade, our dedicated volunteer fire department members would serve hearty hot dogs and refreshing beer to the participating firefighters, fostering a sense of unity and celebration among those who bravely protect our city. / Continue reading “GLOUCESTER CITY FIRE DEPT. ENGINE 51 OPEN HOUSE” →

Michael P. Murphy, of Runnemede, 66; Volunteer Fireman

Michael P. Murphy on March 15, of Runnemede, age 66.

Beloved son of the late Robert C. and May Elinda (nee Lloyd) Murphy Sr. Devoted brother of Agnes Knee (Gerald), Robert C. Murphy Jr. (the late Patricia), Thomas J. Murphy, Richard P. Murphy, Teresa A. Murphy, and David P. Murphy. Dear uncle of 7 and great uncle of 4. Loving nephew of Jack Lloyd

(Ethel) and Mary Lousie Burkhauser.

Michael was a volunteer fire fighter of Runnemede Station 75 for 50 years and an avid fisherman.

There will be a viewing from 7pm to 9pm on Friday and from 9:30am to 11am on Saturday at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral service 11am at the funeral home. Interment St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Blackwood. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.

*Comedy Night Beef & Beer April 3

The purpose of the Camden County Hero Scholarship and Camden County Detective\’s Association is to render financial and educational assistance to the surviving spouse and children who are left with little or no support, when a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical person loses his/her life or is totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty.

https://www.camdencountyhero.com

Authorities Search for Suspect Allegedly Behind Collingswood Home Invasion and Fire

Camden City, N.J.(February 23, 2020)– – Investigators are searching for a man who reportedly broke into a Collingswood home, attacked one occupant and tied another victim up before setting the house on fire, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey.

Firefighters responded to a home on the 200 block of Crestmont Terrace just before 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23. After putting the fire out, firefighters found one victim suffering from injuries not caused by the fire.

After investigating, detectives learned a man allegedly broke in, attacked one victim and tied the other up while demanding money. He then set the house on fire before leaving, according to investigators.

One of the victims described the man as thin and darker-skinned with a short beard and dark hair wearing a yellow winter hat and a yellow and black zip-up sweatshirt.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Mike Batista at 856-676-8175 or Collingswood Police Sgt. William Lyons at 609-868-0266.

Tips may also be emailed to

ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

Tips to Minimize Fire When Using Generators In Your Home

(NAPSI)—The fall and winter seasons bring cooler temperatures, holidays, and images of cozy nights by the fireplace. Yet the change in seasons also comes with the chance of severe weather and an increase in fire risks. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more home fires occur in winter than in any other season.

“Holiday decorations, space heaters, generators, and fireplaces all present fire hazards if not properly used and maintained,” said Steve Hirsch, chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council. “Residents should be aware of the dangers and take the steps to make sure their families and homes are protected.”

Follow these tips to minimize home fire and safety risks:

• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Test monthly to ensure they work.

• Install carbon monoxide alarms and test them at least once a month.

• Know where the gas, electric, and water main shut-off controls are and how to use them.

• Place fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage, and living room, and make sure all household members know how to use them.

• Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it with the entire family.

• Keep portable generators outside and away from the home.

• Install a screen in front of each fireplace or wood stove. Store cooled ashes in a metal container outside the home.

• Have chimneys professionally inspected and cleaned every year.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, or other heat source.

• Never leave lit candles unattended, and keep them out of the reach of children and pets.

• If using a live Christmas tree, keep it adequately watered and get rid of it after Christmas or when it gets dry.

Residents can also take an active role in protecting their communities from hazards such as fires, medical emergencies, and much more. Fire departments across the country are looking for volunteers to serve as firefighters, EMS providers, and auxiliary members.

“The majority of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers—neighbors helping neighbors in an incredible and rewarding way,” said Hirsch. “We need more people to answer the call to serve.”

Training is provided by the department, and volunteers can serve in a variety of roles, from providing life-saving emergency response services to conducting fire prevention programs and disaster preparedness planning.

Learn more and find a volunteer fire service opportunity by going to

www.MakeMeAFirefighter.org

Firefighters Want to Know More About Proposed Pennsylvania Fire Commission

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

A Pennsylvania House committee is weighing a measure that seeks to make changes in how fire and emergency services are administered in the state.

The Pennsylvania Legislature courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer

The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee took up House Bill 1819, which would create a state Fire Commission.

State Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, the bill’s sponsor, said his district includes professional and volunteer-led fire departments that face issues regarding the ability to provide essential services and the ability to recruit and retain members.

“The communities I serve in southeast Allegheny County are facing many of the same challenges in the delivery of fire and emergency medical services that we’re witnessing across this commonwealth,” Davis said.

He told the committee he’s watched as it passed more than 20 bills that have origins from the Senate Resolution 6 Report recommendations from 2018. But, while programs and incentives may offer relief, he said they don’t necessarily address the bigger, underlying problem that will allow communities to offer emergency services for years to come.

So, Davis’ bill seeks to make “a big structural change” to the way the state organizes its support for local emergency service agencies. It would take the Fire Commissioner’s office and make it a 13-member commission that would include state fire chief – who would take over the duties of the commissioner.

Eight of the commission members would come from geographic districts within the state. The governor would appoint and the state Senate would confirm them. While the chief would serve as the chair of the commission, the chief would only vote to break a tie.

While Davis’ bill drew support from the firefighting community, they did offer the committee some recommended changes to the bill.

State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego expressed concern about the power structure between the chief and the commission.

“Having the commission serve in an advisory capacity would allow the commissioner to continue serving the commonwealth Fire Service,” Trego said. “The commission would be able to provide the commissioner with recommendations for the future of the fire service but provide the commissioner with the authority to decide on the appropriate actions.”

Trego added current law allows for a Fire Safety Advisory Committee. While that committee hasn’t been functional in several years due to funding issues, Trego said it could handle some of the responsibilities set out in Davis’ bill.

Trego also had concerns about the geographic makeup of some of the districts, which he felt may be too large.

Jay Delaney, chief of the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department and the president of the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association, did not like that the proposed commission includes representatives from business and industry, architectural firms and insurance companies.

“Private industry representation should not be part of the independent fire commission,” he said.

State Rep. Frank Farry, R-Feasterville, who chairs the committee’s subcommittee on security and emergency response, said he appreciated getting the insights from the firefighting community on the bill.

“I think the testimony was fairly consistent in terms of some proposed changes that probably need to be made to this bill,” Farry said.

published by Gloucestercitynews.net with permission of

The Center Square

Tabernacle Fire Co. Receives Grant from SJ Gas

TABERNACLE, NJ (February 18, 2020)—-South Jersey Gas recently presented a $4,681 grant to Tabernacle Fire Company No. 1 as part of its First Responders Grant Program. Pictured, from left, is Lauren Hurtt, Supervisor of Government Affairs with South Jersey Gas presenting the check to Kate Holden, Al Freeman and Chief Andy Cunard of Tabernacle Fire Company No. 1.

The grant funds, awarded in late-2019, were used by the fire company to purchase a thermal imaging camera and two gas detection meters.

“Our First Responders Grant Program provides crucial financial assistance to support operations, improve safety and provide training to departments throughout the South Jersey region,” said Dave Robbins, president of South Jersey Gas. “Through this investment, South Jersey Gas can help hardworking, courageous first responders and express gratitude for the work they do each day to ensure our communities remain safe. We are proud to partner with Tabernacle Fire Company No. 1 and commend them for their efforts.”

The thermal imaging camera and gas detection meters are vital safety tools that will aid the fire company in various situations. Thermal imaging cameras greatly enhance search and rescue capabilities in zero visibility environments, and gas detection meters gauge the levels of various types of gas, alerting the crew to atmospheric hazards so they can react accordingly.

The First Responder Grant Program will be offered again in November 2020. Program information and eligibility guidelines are available at southjerseygas.com/community.

Fire Destroys 70 Units at Somers Point Self-Storage Facility

mvitale

January 30, 2020/

Homepage

Firefighters put out hot spots Thursday afternoon at Sure Storage in Somers Point. (Photos courtesy Somers Point Fire Chief Jim Somers)

By MADDY VITALE

An early morning fire Thursday tore through a self-storage facility, Sure Storage, at 5 Chestnut Street, causing an explosion and the loss of about 70 storage units, Somers Point Fire Chief Jim Somers said.

“It looked like it started in one unit and spread quickly. It didn’t take much. It was really hot,” Somers said in an interview with SomersPoint.com, describing one of the buildings taken down to charred metal.

There were no reported injuries in the 4:22 a.m. fire.

“We did have an explosion on the second floor,” Somers said. “Thank God no one was in the building at the time.”

By 10:50 a.m., with the help of about 10 to 12 fire companies and about 75 firefighters, the massive blaze was under control, Somers explained.

“There were still a lot of hot spots and a massive cleanup,” he added.

Somers attributed the safe extinguishment of the fire to the professional and quick actions of the firefighters.

“Everybody worked hard. Our guys are well-trained. Nobody was standing around. Not only did we have heavy fires of the units, but we had to cut the doors open,” Somers said. “It was a lot of work to get to the fires.”

The fire was fought from the exterior. It was too dangerous to enter the building, he said.

“The building was too compromised, so it was more of a defensive operation — surround it and drown it,” he said. “We had to call in a backhoe to rip off the outer sheeting of the second floor to get in there.”

The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety was on scene Thursday afternoon to investigate the cause of the fire.

“They are taking care of the investigation. They got it down to where the fire started,” Somers explained.

Although the cause has yet to be determined, Somers pointed out, “People put stuff in there they aren’t supposed to.”

Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser said in an interview that he arrived at the scene early and saw firsthand how hard the firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

“I was there this morning, I’m very grateful to our fire department and the departments from the surrounding towns that responded and helped fight this fire,” Glasser said. “Our emergency management, police and Egg Harbor Township Rescue Squad all did an outstanding job working together to contain this fire. As the mayor, I am very proud and thankful to all.”

In addition to Somers Point Fire Companies No. 1 and No. 2, there were multiple fire departments that assisted, including from Linwood, Northfield and Egg Harbor Township.

About 75 firefighters work together to get the fire under control.

SOURCE SOMERS POINT

6 Top Environmental Issues You Need to Worry About in 2020

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 15, 2020)–Most people are aware that the environment is changing; after all, it’s almost impossible to avoid all the new stories about climate change and how the ice caps are melting, and huge hurricanes are on the way. But how many people

really

understand what is happening to the natural world around them and the impact it will have on their future, not to mention their children’s future? Probably not that many.

That being said, the environmental issues that our world faces today are not going to suddenly disappear overnight. So, steps must be taken to try to tackle these problems head-on; unless people want the world that they know and love to be irrevocably changed forever. We can start by taking a look at the top six environmental issues that should be on everyone’s radar going into 2020.

The Expansion of Urban Areas

The world’s population is expanding at unfounded rates; people are living longer due to impressive developments in medical science, and the number of babies being born is not decreasing any time soon. This means that more housing is needed, which has led to contractors building more and more new developments, mainly by expanding urban areas.

What effect does this have on the environment? By covering the natural landscapes to concrete and bricks, contractors are interrupting the ground’s natural water cycle by stopping water from being absorbed into the ground, leading to

flooding

. Not to mention the fact that an increase in the number of homes being built leads to an increase in gas emissions, resulting in more air pollution.

An Increase in Waste

There are currently 2,000

active landfills

in the U.S., with the average person throwing out 4.4 pounds of trash a day. However, America is in danger of running out of space in their landfills in the next 15-20 years, and then where will the trash go?

Reducing the amount of waste that households throw away is vital, with every person needing to actively try to recycle or compost their waste whenever possible. With more people throwing out nearly twice as much waste compared to a few years ago – most of which is recyclable – the excessive landfills are posing a big risk to our climate.

Endangered Species

Did you know that one out of every 10 plant and animal species will be extinct by 2050? As our ecosystems continue to diminish, the list of endangered species will only continue to get longer; because where are these animals going to live if their habitats become lost? Who can forget the shocking and haunting image of a polar bear balancing on a small piece of ice in the middle of the ocean? We must work to avoid situations like this by supporting conservation efforts.

When we look at success stories of conservation efforts, such as the work being done by

Eric Mogensen

, CEO of Gulf Breeze Zoo, it becomes apparent that we need to do more to protect endangered species. Anyone can donate or volunteer for a conservation group to support this cause.

Climate Change

Whether you want to admit it or not, climate change is real, and it is happening right now, with a majority of experts stating that both natural and man-made greenhouse gasses are to blame. Greenhouse gasses impact so many elements of our planet, from wildlife habitats to the ocean to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. So, how can climate change be reduced?

There are, in fact, several actions that can be taken to reduce the threat of climate change. These include:

Building more sustainably

Using

renewable energy sources

Reducing waste

Reducing pollution

Deforestation

Around 15% of greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation, which might not seem like a huge amount but is still significant. And, as more rainforests are cut down for wood, this number is only set to increase.

Furthermore, what about all the animals and plants that live and thrive in the forests? What will happen to them when their homes are chopped down? It’s a vicious cycle where ecosystems are destroyed, species become endangered, and climate change continues to worsen.

Trees are needed to produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, so what will happen when all the forests have been cut down? Rather than waiting to see the negative effects this will have on our planet, we can stop cutting down trees, or at the very least, ensure that every time a tree is cut down, another one is planted in its place.

A Lack of Water

Running water is so simple in today’s developed world that you probably never thought about what would happen if there wasn’t any. However, there is currently a big problem with water scarcity across the globe, with an estimated 780 million people not having access to clean water, and it is most definitely not just a problem for underdeveloped countries.

Water can often become

contaminated

with diseases, toxins, or chemicals, making it unsafe to drink. Luckily, everyone can help with the issue of water shortage by simply being more mindful of the water that they use on a daily basis; for example, have a quick shower instead of a bath and don’t continuously run the tap when doing the washing up.

Saving the environment is not the job of some big corporation, nor is it down to just one man; everyone needs to do their part and start taking active steps in order to make a difference. Starting now.

Retiring Paterson Firefighters, Police Officers Receiving $1.2 million Leave Time Payouts Under Tax Deferred Plan

PATERSON, NJ (December 28, 2019)–Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh (photo) and council members have agreed to set up what’s called a 401(a) plan, tax-differed retirement saving accounts, for retiring public safety employees. According to The Paterson Times members of the City Council approved

a measure this past Monday allowing Sayegh’s administration to set up the plan at the request of the police and fire unions.

Under the proposal, the city will deposit the accumulated leave time payouts for police and fire employees into the tax-differed retirement savings accounts. Before the new year, the city is paying $1.2 million to 19 firefighters and police officers. The sum is a partial severance payout for the employees.

Municipal official disclosed the city has to pay approximately $5 million in accumulated leave time payouts to firefighters and police officers. The lot includes approximately 30 employees, said officials.