MADISON AVENUE FIREHOUSE
850 MADISON AVENUE
CURRENT OCCUPANTS: Engine Company 1, Ladder 1
EMS Headquarters (Car 9)
Ambulance Units 91 (EMS 1) and 99 (EMS 9) 2nd spare
Apparatus Repair Division (Mechanics Shop)
EMS Headquarters (Car 9)
Ambulance Units 91 (EMS 1) and 99 (EMS 9) 2nd spare
Apparatus Repair Division (Mechanics Shop)
May 4, 1978: Ground breaking
The Firehouse at 850 Madison Avenue (near Market Street) was built on the grounds of the old Paterson General Hospital. It opened in September 1979. It became Fire Department Headquarters on July 7, 1982 and remained as such until 2015. Initially it housed Engine Companies 6 and 10.
As part of opening ceremonies, the following Chiefs posed for a photo: Left-Right - AC Paul Peterson, DC Solomon Reines, AC Joseph Forbes, AC Gerard Dugan, AC William Comer, retired DC James Chaplain, DC John Mauro, DC Edward Hancock, Chief Harold Kane, DC Joseph Dougherty. Posed in front of Washington Engine Company 3 1863 Steamer
November 21, 1979: Dedication of New Firehouse
Two of the Bay Dedication plaques on walls of Madison Avenue firehouse
Chronological Listing of the Apparatus at Madison Avenue Firehouse
Early photos soon after Firehouse opened (Hancock Collection)
September 1979: Engine Company 6 relocates from the 476 Market Street Firehouse to Madison Avenue. It operates a 1975 Hahn 1250 GPM (Serial # HCP528127624) formerly used by Engine Company 1.
October 1979: Engine Company 10 from 198 17th Avenue relocates to Madison Avenue. It is using a 1975 Hahn 1250 GPM pumper (Serial # HCP528127621) painted yellow formerly used by Engine Company 5.
The dedication plaque on front of the cab of Engine 10 was in memory of Assistant Chief Richard Walmsley.
~ November 1979 - At left are two new yellow ALF pumpers that would go to E5 (Van Houten Street) and E12 (Circle Avenue). At right are Engine 6 and 10 (1975 Hahn Pumpers).
June 28, 1982: Truck Company 2 relocates from Lakeview Firehouse to Madison Avenue, using the 1975 tillered Pirsch (Serial 3111)
September 3, 1982: The aerial truck at Madison Avenue is now renumbered as Truck Company 1 and receives the 1981 ALF AeroChief rearmount aerial (Serial 7254), painted yellow from the Hillcrest Firehouse. The 1975 Pirsch aerial is sent to Hillcrest Firehouse where it operates as Truck Company 2.
September 3, 1982: The aerial truck at Madison Avenue is now renumbered as Truck Company 1 and receives the 1981 ALF AeroChief rearmount aerial (Serial 7254), painted yellow from the Hillcrest Firehouse. The 1975 Pirsch aerial is sent to Hillcrest Firehouse where it operates as Truck Company 2.
September 3, 1982: Engine Company 10 is renamed as Engine Company 2 and receives a yellow 1975 Hahn (HCP528127621) which was formerly used by Engine Companies 5 and 10. It still carried the dedication plaque to Assistant Chief Richard Walmsley
Captain Gallagher last day on job
September 3, 1982: The name Engine Company 6 is transferred to Southside Firehouse. The 1975 Hahn apparatus (HCP528127624) used by E6 at Madison Avenue is renamed as Engine Company 1.
June 1983: Engine 10 receives its former 1977 American LaFrance 1250 GPM pumper (Serial (CE175678) now painted white.
October 1982: Engine Company 1 receives 1977 ALF 1250 GPM Telesquirt conversion. This ALF (Serial #CE175679) just 3 months after entering service at Engine Company 5 was severely damaged at Fulton Street Fire in 1978 and then converted to a telesquirt
Engine 1 with Captain George Stanton and Assistant Chief William Comer
Engine 1's 1977 ALF Telesquirt (# CE175679) Conversion drilling along Passaic River at Bridge Street (Natoli Collection photos)
Engine 1 Telesquirt in action
September 3, 1982: Truck Company 1 is renamed Truck 2 and relocates from the Lakeview Firehouse on Trenton Avenue to Madison Avenue. It uses a 1981 American LaFrance 100' Aerochief (Serial # 7254) painted yellow (originally used by Truck Company 2 at Van Houten Street)
November 19, 1982: Firehouse ownership issues
~1984/1985 photo: with ALF apparatus: L-R Engine ?E5 Telesquirt conversion (1979 Model CE6620), Gig, Engine 2 ALF Engine 1 Telesquirt conversion (1977 model CE175679)
Rescue 1 pictured at Madison Avenue
February 19, 1985 Engine Company 1 acquires a Spartan Thibault Redi-Tower Telesquirt 55' telescoping with a 1250 GPM with 300 gallon booster tank
Drill on River Street alongside Passaic River - CLICK TO ENLARGE
April 26, 1985: Truck Company 1 receives an 110' Pirsch rearmount aerial painted white
September 4, 1985: Engine 2 receives a 1975 Hahn HCP-12 Pumper -HCP528127624 which had been in service at Engine 8
Chief's Gig at Madison Avenue
1987: Engine Company 1 receives a new Emergency One Pumper - which began the era of 4 door closed cab rigs with front suction - had 300-gallon booster tanks
April 14, 1989: Elmo the firehouse Dalmatian disappears
February 1990 newspaper photo from Madison Avenue kitchen (chicken and sausage meal): Tour 1: L-R: Joe Ciarleglio, Tom Hirz, Pat Tuohey (partially hidden), George Duin (in back), Tony Puglia (chef), Steve Morley, Alphonse Francavilla Sr. (sitting), Richie Warner, Angel Gonzales, Joe Francese.
1990: Photo of Engine Company 1with 1987 E-One pumper and Truck 1 with 1985 Pirsch aerial on apron at Madison Avenue
March 1991: FF Joe Francese and George Duin next to Truck 1
Truck Companies renamed Ladder Companies
1991: Ladder 1 receives a E-One Hurricane rear mounted 100' aerial.
1995 Photo: 100th Anniversary of Paid Paterson Fire Department Photo of Ladder 1 Emergency One aerial posed with West Paterson's restored Ahrens Fox (Paterson Engine Company 9).
1994: Engine Company 1 E-One RD Murray with Spartan cab 1500 GPM pumper
November 27, 1996: Thanksgiving feasts at the firehouse
September 4, 1997: 150-152 5th Avenue 3rd alarm fire. Engine 1 Tour 1 - L-R: FF Ray Allex, FF Chris Babcock, FF Larry Rodriguez, Captain Rich Hoffman, FF Chris Tice.
Below is the 1999 Spartan Innovation 105' rear mounted aerial of Ladder 2 (posed at Madison Avenue)- Chief officers in front (L-R): DiGuglielmo, Pasquariello, Postorino, McLaughlin and Fleming - Photo taken at the 2000 retirement of Captain William Henderson (in blue shirt at right of B/C Fleming with his two sons on each side)
1999: Apparatus photo at Madison Avenue - labelled as "New Apparatus" in 1999 Ball Book. The aerial is Ladder 2.
circa 1999 photo Ladder 1 with Tour 2 Firefighters at Madison Avenue
2001: Photo at the 2nd floor of Madison Ave FH in the Chief's Conference Room. L-R are Armindo Cortez, Lucille Bleeker, Jacoba Bouier and Captain Ventimglia
February 2002: Engine One receives a Pierce Saber 1500 GPM pumper - Cost was $256,975 purchased thru bonding
May 2004: Ladder 1 failed a Ladder safety test - $26,000 in repairs were needed and pending arrival of a new aerial, a spare ladder trick from Passaic FD (a 1985 Mack) as borrowed. After current L1 was repaired it became a spare.
2004 Ladder 1 receives an loaner aerial from E-One
2004: Factory photos of new E-One mid mount aerial (courtesy D/C Bruce Vander Voort and B/C Alex Credidio)
November 14, 2004: Clean up duty at Madison Ave
April 19, 2005: Ladder 1 receives an E-One mid mounted tower ladder painted red. Went on duty April 30 at 0800 hours for Tour 4. Its first use of the ladder was April 30 at 11:13 PM for a 1 alarm fire at 59 17th Avenue (just off Madison Avenue)
The apparatus Dedication plaque is for William "Flip" Filippelli, Jr
2006: Engine 1 receives a new Emergency One 1500 GPM pumper painted red
FIELD COM when at Madison Avenue
December 2007: Capt. Ryan Murray, F/F Terrell Jones, F/F Mike Hall, F/F Richie Vargas, Captain Michael D'Arco, F/F Carl Larson (his December 2007 promotion ceremony to Captain at then HQ Madison Ave) F/F Jaquay Williams and F/F Jesus Perez. Northside Tour 1 group.
Engine Company 1 Pumper at fire across from the McBride Avenue Firehouse
Ladder 1 and Support Service Truck 57 shown below
Ladder 1 at Paterson Armory Fire November 2015
December 2015: New Engine 1 Pierce Arrow XT 1500 GPM pumper drilling just before entering service
March 2016: E1 and L1 in bays at Madison Avenue
March 30 2016: Engine 1 at Pacific Street second alarm
Ron Bombaro video of Engine 1 and truck 1 responding from Madison Ave firehouse
September 25, 2016: 343 Hamilton Ave 4 Alarms Engine 1
December 15, 2016 Ladder 1 in bay at Madison Avenue
December 2016: Views in Madison Avenue Mechanics shop
January 10, 2017: Engine 1 and Ladder 1 at 861 Market Street working fire - 1 story industrial
January 23: 2017: Ladder 1 at 87 Dixon Avenue working fire
May 21, 2017: Ladder 1 at 2nd alarm on Alabama Avenue Michael Saggau Jr. photo
June 25, 2017: Ladder 1 and Engine 1 (Tour 3) members - retirement of Captain Craig Lauten
July 25, 2017: Ladder 1 responding on Main Street Ron Bombaro video
September 4, 2017: Ladder 1 on mutual aid assignment to Clifton
November 2017: Engine 1 and Ladder 1 responding at Main Street and Madison Avenue (Ron Bombaro video)
December 2017: Pierce Factory photo of new Ladder 1 (pierce Arrow XT 100' Tower) coming to PFD
December 28, 2017: Photos are at McBride Avenue FH before Truck entered service. T. Dayspring photos.
December 28, 2017: Madison Avenue Firehouse
December 28, 2017: Ladder 1 Tour 1 - L-R FF Jonathan Roman, Captain Alton Dickson, FF Micah Pierce, & FF Leonardo Perez
January 12, 2018: @1500 Hrs - New Ladder 1 Pierce Arrow Aerial enters service at Madison Avenue FH. The crew was Captain Dante Destefano, FF Kyle Hughes, FF Chris. Tice, FF K Jeltma. FFT Giliberti was assigned to ambulance for day shift.
FIRST OFFICIAL RUN
Jan. 12, 2018 @ 1455 Hrs. – Incident # 180423 – 321 Preakness Ave.
Tour 4 – Carbon Monoxide call
L-1 Crew:
Capt. Dante DeStefano
FF Chris Tice (Driver)
FF Kyle Hughes
FF Ken Jeltema
The Tour Commander’s log had L-1 in service at 1500 Hrs., but in reality the time of the call was 1455 Hrs. The guess is L-1 was planning to go in service at 1500 Hrs, but the call came in at 1455 so they took the call and responded from Madison Avenue. Ordinarily, that would be L-2’s response area. Each Ladder Co. has a meter to detect Carbon Monoxide but the L-2 was meter was out for repair, so they sent L-1.
Jan. 12, 2018 @ 1455 Hrs. – Incident # 180423 – 321 Preakness Ave.
Tour 4 – Carbon Monoxide call
L-1 Crew:
Capt. Dante DeStefano
FF Chris Tice (Driver)
FF Kyle Hughes
FF Ken Jeltema
The Tour Commander’s log had L-1 in service at 1500 Hrs., but in reality the time of the call was 1455 Hrs. The guess is L-1 was planning to go in service at 1500 Hrs, but the call came in at 1455 so they took the call and responded from Madison Avenue. Ordinarily, that would be L-2’s response area. Each Ladder Co. has a meter to detect Carbon Monoxide but the L-2 was meter was out for repair, so they sent L-1.
January 17, 2017: First fire and extra alarm (3rd) for new Ladder 1 on East 25th Street
Additional Photos - Click Here
Additional Photos - Click Here
January 23, 2018: 2015 Ladder 2 (2015 Pierce Arrow) moves to Madison Avenue for maintenance. The new (2017 Pierce Arrow) operates at Northside as Ladder 2 (even though it retains the L1 markings). Ladder 1, uses its previous E-One aerial.
February 16, 2018: 2015 Pierce Arrow back at Northside as Ladder 2. The new 2017 Pierce Arrow returns to Madison Avenue as Ladder 1
February 27, 2018: Ladder 1 and Engine 1, responding out of Madison Avenue quarters. Rob Bombaro video
April 22, 2018: Ladder 1, Engine 1 of PFD pays respect to motorcade transporting deceased, in line of duty, PPD officer (Tamby Yagan)
May 15, 2018: Ladder 1 parked on Green Street (Truck fire at 493 Main Street)
June 3, 2018: Ladder 2 at Annual Memorial Service (McBride Avenue Firehouse)
Photos by Thomas Dayspring
Photos by Thomas Dayspring
August 2018: Helmets of Engine 1 at Madison Avenue
August 2018: Helmets of Ladder 1 at Madison Avenue
September 11, 2018:
October 2, 2018: 757 East 27th Street 2nd alarm
November 2018:
December 25, 2018: As always PFD ready 24 x 7 x 365 days
December 27, 2018: Madison Avenue Firehouse
May 12, 2012: Engine 1 River and Straight Street 3rd alarm
September 1, 2019: 21st Avenue second alarm Engine 1 and Ladder 1
September 25, 2019: Drill at McBride Avenue Headquarters
March 2020 thru May 30: Due to conversion of Lakeview Firehouse as a COVID Command Operations center Engine 3 and Ambulance 93 all were relocated to Madison Ave splitting it into two firehouses with the addition of E3 and 93.
April 12, 2020: 2nd alarm at 379 East 26th Street
June 6, 2020: Stove fire at 834 Madison Avenue - E1 and L1 at scene
October 22, 2020: The mechanic shop will receive an epoxy floor during first week of November. A new office was built with COVID protection. The old ambulance bays have been transformed into a small vehicle shop complete with lifts, tire mount and tire balancer. There is new high-tech diagnostic computer and air compressor piped to every lift for air tools and tire fill.
Terminology has changed and the former Master Mechanic is now called Chief of Apparatus (Antonio Diaz) and under him is an Assistant Chief of Apparatus.
December 12, 2020: Getty Avenue scene
June 4, 2021: Ladder 1 at Memorial Service at Headquarters on McBride Avenue
June 12, 2021: EMS 1 to replace Ambulance 91 and EMS 9 for Ambulance 99
October 14, 2021: Engine 1, Ladder 1 and Spare Ladder 1 in bays
November 2, 2021: Ladder 1 at fire scene
December 25, 2021: Engine 1 in bay
February 27, 2022: 2nd alarm on Sheridan Avenue
September 10, 2022: Engines 1 and 5 collide at Broadway and Straight Street
September 22, 2022: Ladder 1 and Engine 1 using spare E-One pumper at FF Ceremony at St Joseph's Hospital (Todd Hollritt photos)
December 2022: Ladder 1 exiting Madison Avenue quarters
Christmas 2022: Madison Avenue Firehouse Meal Tour 4
March 24, 2023: Celebrating Captain Falcones pof Engine 1 last day as a Captain. Left to right: FF Victor Perez FF Danny Reyno FF Roberto Diaz FF Roshaun Davis FF Deandre Page Captain Leonardo Acosta Captain Santino Falcone FF Steven West FF Israel Vargas FF Antonio Moore FF Ralph Feliciano
November 18, 2023: @6:54 AM 358 Van Houten Street 2nd alarm with rescue. 2.5 story dwelling -- Aftermath photos of L1 and E1 below by Ron Bombaro
November 23, 2023: Thanksgiving for Tour 1 at Madison Avenue
December 1. 2023: PFD will be receiving three new Ferrara Pumpers one of which will be assigned to Engine 1
December 20, 2023: New Engine 1 Ferrara pumper arrives at Headquarters
December 31, 2023: Tour 3 FF and BC meet at Madison Avenue after out at an alarm
Courtesy Amanda Dakake (bottom center) FF Gabriel Velez, FF Cesar Medina, FF Gabriel Crichlow, Capt Winfred Roman, BC Santino Falcone, FF Jean Vargas, FF Greg Gourley, FF Craig Puglise, FF Kenneth Hicks, FF Christopher DiBella, FF Devin McGowan, FF John Molina, Capt Ryan Higgins, FF Martin Taccetta, FF Devin Anderson, BC Frank Liscio, FF Andrew Ocasio, Capt Michael Payne, Capt Jonathan Salmond, FF Amanda Dakake, Capt Mike Scherer, FF Matt McLaughlin, FF Joel Fermin, FF Alvin Ramos, FF Timothy Klein, Capt Andrzej Kalata, FF John Hurley, Capt Luis Mantilla, FF Alex Hernandez, FF Issac Rivera, FF Kyle Mizdol, FF Luis Salerna, FF Timothy DeHaas
January 11, 2024: New Ferrara pumper put into service at E1 by Tour 1 - 2023 Heavy Duty Cinder Side Mount Pumper which has a 1500 GPM Hale QMAX pump and 500 gallon water tank
February 1, 2024: Engine 1 Ferrara pumper at its first 2nd alarm fire on Broadway
April 2024: 1st Responder Newspaper - April NJ Edition