Newark Fire Department

Newark Fire Department (NFD)
"Public Safety First"
Operational area
Country United States
State  New Jersey
City Newark
Agency overview
Established 1863
Annual calls ~50,000
Employees ~700
Fire chief John G. Centanni
EMS level BLS First Responder
Facilities and equipment
Battalions 3
Stations 16
Engines 16
Rescues 1
Tenders 1
HAZMAT 4
USAR 1
Fireboats 2

The Newark Fire Department (NFD) provides fire protection and first responder emergency medical services to the city of Newark, New Jersey, United States.[1]

The Newark Fire Department is the largest fire department in New Jersey and responds to approximately 50,000 emergency calls annually. In 2006, the NFD responded to 2,681 fire and hazardous condition-related calls.[2]

Organization

The department is sub-divided into 13 separate divisions of operations: Administration, Community Relations, Construction and Maintenance, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Life Safety, Fire Signal System Operation, Firefighting/Fire Suppression, Hazardous materials (Haz-Mat) Response, Investigations, Operations, Photography and Media Liaison, Special Operations, and Training.

The current Fire Director is James W. Stewart, current Chief of Department is John G. Centanni.

Operations

The Newark Fire Department currently operates out of 16 Fire Stations, located throughout the city in 3 Battalions, under the command of 3 Battalion Chiefs and 1 Deputy Chief/Tour Commander per shift. Each frontline piece of fire apparatus is staffed by a crew of an officer and three firefighters at all times.

Operations of the department are taxed by a crumbling water system. Local newspapers have reported that a quarter of all fire hydrants in the city are defective, with 484 out of service.[3]

Fire Station Locations and Apparatus

Below is a complete listing of all NFD fire station locations and fire companies in the city of Newark according to Battalion.[4]

The Newark Fire Department is also planning to build a new quarters for Engine 26 and Ladder 12 on 18th Ave. in Vailsburg. The NFD has consulted Lineworks Architecture & Design LLC. to develop designs for the new fire station.[5]

Additionally, in 2013, Lineworks LLC. completely renovated and restored the original quarters of Engine 27 and Ladder 4 at 89 Elm Rd. in South Ironbound. Companies were temporarily located with Ladder 8 on Ferry St. for the duration of the renovations.[6]

Engine Company Ladder Company Special Unit Spare Unit Chief Battalion Address Neighborhood Ward Build Date
Engine 5 Spare Engine 5 5 65 Congress St. North Ironbound East Ward Built 1904
Engine 6 Deputy 1 (Tour Commander) 3 344 Springfield Ave. Springfield/Belmont Central Ward Built 1889
Engine 7 Haz-Mat. Unit 1 3 241 W. Market St. University Heights Central Ward Built 1923
Engine 9 Battalion 3 3 197 Summer Ave. Mount Pleasant/Lower Broadway Central Ward Built 1923
Engine 10 Ladder 5 Rescue 2 (USAR/UASI/Collapse Unit) Spare Engine 6 5 360 Clinton Ave. South Broad Street South Ward Built 2005
Engine 11 Ladder 11 Rescue 1 4 345 S. 9th St. Fairmount West Ward Built 1991
Engine 13 Tower Ladder 6 Foam Unit 1 3 718 Mt. Prospect Ave. Forest Hill North Ward Built 1967
Engine 14 5 69 Vesey St. South Ironbound East Ward Built 1897
Engine 15 Ladder 7 3 271 Park Ave. Lower Roseville North Ward Built 1892
Engine 16 Ladder 8 Spare Ladder 4 5 473 Ferry St. North Ironbound East Ward Built 1908
Engine 18 Battalion 4 4 395 Avon Ave. West Side South Ward Built 1911
Engine 19 5 528 Frelinghuysen Ave. Newark Liberty International Airport South Ward Built 1905
Engine 26 Ladder 12 4 420 Sanford Ave. Lower Vailsburg West Ward Built 1918
Engine 27 Ladder 4 Fireboat 1, Fireboat 2 Battalion 5 5 89 Elm Rd. South Ironbound East Ward Renovated 2013
Engine 28 3 691 N. 6th St. Upper Roseville North Ward Built 1921
Engine 29 Ladder 10 4 1028 Bergen St. Weequahic South Ward Built 1922
Special Operations Units, Haz-Mat. Units Spare Engine 7, Spare Engine 9, Spare Engine 28, Spare Engine 29, Spare Ladder 6, Spare Ladder 7, Spare Ladder 10, Spare Rescue 1 Battalion 2 (Callback), Battalion 6 (Safety), Special Operations Battalion 3 191 Orange St. University Heights Central Ward Built 2006

Other Facilities

In addition to the 16 Fire Stations operated by the Newark Fire Department, the department also operates several other facilities, including Fire Headquarters, located at 1018 18th Avenue. This building houses the offices of the Fire Director and Chief of Department. The department's Communications Office, or Fire Dispatch is located at 311 Washington Street. The Community Relations Office is located at the quarters of Engine 10 and Ladder 5, 360 Clinton Avenue. The Fire Apparatus Maintenance Facility and the Mask Repair Shop is located at 233 Wilson Avenue. Also, the Fire Alarm Line Division, the Special Services Division, the Supply Division, and the Hose Shop are all located at 56 Prospect Street(former quarters of Engine 5) in the North Ironbound neighborhood.

The Training Academy, the Safety Division, the Special Operations Division, the Haz-Mat. Division, and the Newark Fire Officer's Union are located at 191 Orange Street.

The offices of the Newark Firefighter's Union are located at 238 Murray Street.

The department's fireboat is docked off of Corbin St. in the 5th Battalion.

Closed/Disbanded Fire Companies

Former quarters of Engine 8 in the Ironbound neighborhood

In 2010, Ladder 1, Rescue 1, and Haz-Mat. 1 were all located at 191 Orange St. In 2010, Ladder 1 was disbanded and Rescue 1 and Haz-Mat. 1 were moved to the quarters of Engine 11 and Ladder 11. Also on October 1, 2010, Engine 12, located at the quarters of Engine 10 and Ladder 5 was disbanded. In addition, Battalion 1 was disbanded. The command of fire companies in the 1st Battalion was distributed to the commands of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Battalions.[7]

Below is a list of fire companies that have been closed or disbanded from service through the history of the Newark Fire Department. These closing have usually been the result of budget cuts to the fire department. Also, Battalion 2 is staffed to make up a 4th Battalion when manpower permits, and Battalion 6 is also staffed as the Safety Officer, responding to all Signal 11's(Working Fires).[8][9][10]

Below is a list of the locations of Fire Stations and Companies in Newark during the 1960s and 1970s.

Engine Company Truck Company Special Unit Battalion Chief Deputy Chief Address
Engine 1, Engine 3 Truck 1 Battalion 2 188 Mulberry St.
Engine 4 Truck 2 241 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Engine 5 Deputy 2 65 Congress St.
Engine 6 Deputy 1 344 Springfield Ave.
Engine 7 Truck 3 Tactical Unit 2 (Formed in place of Engine 7) Battalion 1 241 W. Market St.
Engine 8 296 Ferry St.
Engine 9 Battalion 3 197 Summer Ave.
Engine 10 33 Astor St.
Engine 11 Truck 11 521 Central Ave.
Engine 12 Truck 5 Irvine Turner Blvd. & Muhammad Ali Ave.
Engine 13 Truck 6 718 Mt. Prospect Ave.
Engine 14, Engine 31 (Reserve) 71 Vesey St.
Engine 15 Truck 7 271 Park Ave.
Engine 16 Truck 8 473 Ferry St.
Engine 17 86 Clinton Pl.
Engine 18, Engine 25 Truck 9 Battalion 4 395 Avon Ave.
Engine 19 528 Frelinghuysen Ave.
Engine 20 Tactical Unit 1 (Formed in place of Engine 20) 15 Prince St.
Engine 21 721 S. Orange Ave.
Engine 22 Salvage Unit 2 New St. & Colden St.
Engine 23, Engine 30 (Reserve) Rescue 1 44 Mt. Prospect Ave.
Engine 24 Salvage Unit 1 77 Academy St.
Engine 26 Truck 12 420 Sanford Ave.
Engine 27 Truck 4 Battalion 5 89 Elm Rd.
Engine 28 691 N. 6th St.
Engine 29 Truck 10 1028 Bergen St.
Engine 32 270 Port St.(Port Newark)

Apparatus specifications

Below is a complete list of all Newark FD apparatus, their manufacturer and specifications, and date.

Engine companies

Ladder companies

Command units

Special units

Communications

The Newark Fire Department's Communications Office, or Fire Dispatch is located at 311 Washington Street. Fire Dispatch is referred to as "Headquarters" over the department radio.

Response guidelines

Alarm Level Radio Signal Assigned Units
Still Alarm, Signal 5 Assignment Signal 5 1 Engine or 1 ladder, or 1 chief, or 1 special unit
Signal 8 Assignment Signal 8 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Battalion Chief
Signal 9 Assignment Signal 9 2 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Battalion Chief
Alarm of Fire (Full 1st Alarm) Assignment Signal 10 4 Engines, 2 Ladders, Rescue, 1 Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief/Tour Commander
Working Fire Assignment(Upgrade) Signal 11 1 Ladder(F.A.S.T.), 1 Battalion Chief(Safety)
2nd Alarm Assignment(Upgrade) Signal 2-2 4 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Battalion Chief
3rd Alarm Assignment(Upgrade) Signal 3-3 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Battalion Chief
4th Alarm Assignment(Upgrade) Signal 4-4 3 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Call Back Battalion Chief
5th Alarm Assignment(Upgrade) Signal 5-5 2 Engines, 1 Ladder, 1 Call Back Battalion Chief

Radio signal codes

The Newark Fire Department currently uses radio signal codes during communication via department radios and to classify specific types of incidents. Below is a list of codes used.

References

  1. ↑ City of Newark, NJ - Mission and Purpose
  2. ↑ "Newark: Fire Incidents in 2006, New Jersey (NJ)". CityData.com. 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ Hundreds of Newark fire hydrants unusable as city grapples with aging water system, by Star Ledger Staff, 11 August 2013, Star-Ledger
  4. ↑ City of Newark, NJ - Newark Fire Department Stations
  5. ↑ http://www.lineworks.net/portfolio-view.php?type=3&content_id=109
  6. ↑ http://www.lineworks.net/portfolio-view.php?type=3&content_id=104
  7. ↑ "Newark, N.J. Fire Department Firehouse Locations - 2005". newarkfirehistory.com. 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  8. ↑ Newark Fire Department, City of Newark. Accessed 2011-09-13.
  9. ↑ Newark Fire Department Stations, City of Newark. Accessed 2011-09-13.
  10. ↑ Home page, Newark Fire History. Accessed 2011-09-13.

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Coordinates: 40°44′01″N 74°11′40″W / 40.73355°N 74.19439°W