Special Operations Incidents
March 2, 1957: Futile search for murder weapon in Passaic River
March 4 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
September 8, 1957: Removal of citizen from Arch Street Bridge
September 9 Paterson News
November 8, 1957: River rescue from Arch Street Bridge
November 9 Paterson New
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February 12, 1960: Spruce Street bridge rescue
February 13 Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison
May 1, 1960: Body recovery from Passaic River - at West Broadway Bridge
May 2 Paterson News
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September 6, 1960: Boy removed from fence Truck 1 and Rescue Truck response
September 7 Paterson Evening News
July 20, 1961: Floods ravage Paterson Rescues Truck and boats used
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Paterson Evening News
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November 8, 1963: 4:37 PM Passaic Falls Rescue - Commanded by AC Ted Tice - The Rescue Truck's (then operated by Engine 5) Captain Earl H Plavier lowered a 200' rope and sling to Chief's Aide John Palonis who was stationed in the ravine below. Palonis was then pulled up to reach the young man: both were then lowered back to the ravine floor.
November 9 Morning Call
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Captain referred to is Earl H Plavier
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September 1, 1965: Rescue Company dredging for a gun in Passaic River: Captain Earl H. Plavier, and FF Bob Gabriel and Joe Forbes (future A/C)
November 8, 1965: Attempted dog rescue in Passaic River
November 9 Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 22, 1965: ~ 8 PM 27 Kentucky Avenue Extraction of entangled worker
December 23 Paterson Evening News - courtesy Dennis Morrison
May 30, 1966: 7:34 AM 63 Governor Street Grain vat extraction rescue
May 31 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Mrrison
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circa 1969-70: MVA with double fatality
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FF Chic Mandara
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July 19, 1969: Body removal from Passaic River at 107 River Street
July 20 Paterson Evening News
September 3, 1969: Market and east 26th Street accident Rescue Truck extraction
September 4 Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison
January 30, 1973: MVA Market Street & Lakeview Avenue Rescue Truck extraction
January 31 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
January 10, 1974: rescue at Raceway Cliff at Ivanhoe Mill on Spruce Street
June 20, 1975: Searching Passaic River for baby (turned out to be false alarm)
January 20 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
February 1, 1985: Death on Route 20 south. The E-9 (Rescue Co) in photo is FF Eddie James. The FF to his left is Rich Maddy. FF in navy wool cap and insulated jacket is Jimmy Shearn. Jaws of Life used.
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
October 12, 1985: SJH paramedic vehicle and auto collide at Straight Street & 16th Avenue. Jaws of Life used by Rescue Co. Medic unit hit the News building on that corner.
EMT is Robert Flaker - Record photo courtesy Dennis Morrison
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April 26, 1986: 3 PM Passaic Falls Rescue
April 18 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
April 28, 1987: Recovery of two bodies from Passaic River
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
February 26, 1992: Body recovery from Passaic River
? FF Tony Vindeed, PPD Ron Lewis lower left & George Brejack (in Fedora ) February 27 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
September 10, 1992: 11:00 PM Rescue of a suicidal man from a telephone pole on Franklin Street between Summer and Mercer.
September 11 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 9, 1992: ~ 11 AM AM Rescue 1 using jaws of Life deals with decapitation accident at 343 11th Ave apparel company
December 10 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
July 11, 1995: 297 Getty Avenue - elevator accident Rescue Co 1
July 12 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
circa 1998: Rescue Truck at a Rollover with Entrapment. Rob Bombaro Video
Captain John Ferrarella on his knees with victim later talking with then Captain Joseph A. Murray, Director of EMS.
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May 15, 2005: PFD Special OPs participates at the Center for National Response in West Virginia in a simulation disaster drill of the Holland Tunnel. There were 6 participants from Paterson: Ed Olszewski and Mart Krupinski (then Battalion Chiefs), Brian McDemott and Donn Langevin (then Captains), and Luis Vega and Jonathan Krehel.
Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 14, 2006: 11 AM 127-131 River Street Building Collapse
March 20, 1976: Cliff Rescue at Passaic Falls
March 22 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
December 16, 2006: Auto at bottom of the Passaic River above the Falls
Courtesy Steve D'Arco who is on car roof and Brian McDermott standing in the boat
April 18, 2007: Water rescue on Bridge Street - Captain Scott Parkin, Angelo Marzella and John Krehel. Rescue Co. 2 Tour # 4.
Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 8, 2008: Rescue performed in Passaic General Hospital. A patient who went into cardiac arrest was stuck in the blind shaft of an elevator with a physician and nurse performing CPR. L-R FF Giacchino Panico, FF John Jones, FF Scott Wilson, Captain John Bradle, FF Jason Macones.
Photo courtesy Scott Wilson
April 23, 2008: Garret Mountain Rescue
April 24 Herald - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
July 13, 2008: Fall from Passaic Falls cliff
July 14 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
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August 9, 2010: Route 80 fatal accident
August 10 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
August 27 to September 11, 2011: Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee
Click on slides below to enlarge Photos courtesy D/C Bruce Vander Voort
Click on slides below to enlarge Photos courtesy D/C Bruce Vander Voort
In boat below: Scott Parkin at helm, and Firefighters Pedro Garced and Scott Rogow forward
Rescue along River in Totowa - Scott Parkin collection
February 14, 2013: Frozen water drill at Barbour's pond
February 15 Herald
April 20, 2013: ~ 2 PM Body recovery from Passaic River at Bergen Street
April 22 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
2014: Winter Training at Barbour's Pond
F/F Luis Vega standing at right
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September 11, 2015: MVA with entrapment on East 24th Street
September 12 Herald L-R are Gremier Alemany, Andrew Mingione, Jason leggette, Rob Santore, B/C D'Arco (Rescue Chief), B/C Cam Gardner, Capt Jose Molina
March 31, 2016: Body recover at Passaic River - Temple Street bridge area
April 1 Herald
May 1. 2018: Body recover Passaic River
May 2 Herald
August 8, 2019: Body recovery Passaic River - West Broadway Bridge - Ron Bombaro video
August 9 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison
August 15, 2019: @ 2055 hrs Rescue Co. 2 along with BC 3 and Ambulance 96 staffed with 2 rescue members responded as mutual aid into Prospect Park regarding a male party who impaled his finger to the frame of a van while attempting to fix his fender. Rescue 2 now staffed with 6 members along with Prospect Park Fire stabilized the van and the victims arm, placed a protective fire proof blanket around victims body and arm, removed the fender, gained access to the screw and was able to use a dremel to cut above and below the screw freeing the trapped victims hand. This "man in the machine" type incident was completed by members on scene in approximately 10 minutes resulting in no additional injuries or pain to the victim. The victim was transported to the local ER for further evaluation.
October 18, 2019: MVA at Totowa and Burlington Avenues - Rescue 2 and USAR 1
October 21, 2019: Passaic River incident Bombaro video
October 22 Herald
October 25, 2019: Fatal accident Route 19 South - Mark Rosetti and Ron Bombaro video
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October 27, 2019: Ron Bombaro video of R2 response
December 6, 2019: Christmas Toy Drive Parade
Todd Hollritt photo
February 10, 2020: Mill Street & Route 19 MVA Ron Bombaro video
February 22, 2020: Rescue 1 1718hrs East Orange NJ fire department requested a full Metro USAR response to 89 North Arlington Ave in East Orange for a 4 story ordinary constructed building under construction with a collapse of the center of the building with a debris pile in the street. Paterson BC 1 Macones & Rescue Co. 1 Capt. Woods, FF Sanchez, FF Eickhorst, FF Puglise, FF Piccoli along with 10 other MUSAR companies responded.
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R1
R1 Captain AJ Woods
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B/C Macones
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March 27, 2020: Chadwick Street incident Haz-Mat 1 and rescue 2 at scene
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courtesy Bill Tompkins
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March 30, 2020: HazMat 1 responding Ron Bombaro video
April 12, 2020: 2nd alarm dwelling fire at 379 East 26th Street
Bill Tompkins photo
Bill Tompkins photo
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Rescue 1 - Bill Tompkins photo
Bill Tompkins photo
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April 23, 2020: 3rd alarm at 31 McBride Avenue extension (Bill Tompkins photos)
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May 2, 2020: Rescue 2 responding - Ron Bombaro video
June 14, 2020: Butler Street 5th alarm R2: FF Dave Leporini, FF Marwin Torres, FF Mike Payne, Captain Dyk
July 3, 2020: Special Ops - vehicle recover in Passaic River Ron Bombaro video
October 15, 2020: (1557) Inc.#20-5980 Companies responded to the Paterson Falls, 72 McBride Ave. on a reported person in the river. Battalions 3 and 2 arrived on scene and confirmed that one male had fallen from a cliff and landed in the water near the river bank. Paterson Police were already on scene and secured the victim on the river bank. Deputy 3 assumed command from Battalion 3. ALS-704 was on scene for the pronouncement, Dr. Catapano. Both R-1 and R-2 conducted the recovery operation assisted by E-7, E-2 and L-2, Ambulance 97 staged at the scene. Command transferred to Battalion 2. The medical examiners office removed the body from the scene. RAC Unit on scene for rehab. All personnel and equipment were de-conned at the scene.
October 20, 2020: Parrot rescue from atop City Hall Engine 4, Ladder 2
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Chief McDermott selfie
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Captain Lobosco of L2
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November 10, 2020: Boat retrieval by Rescue 2
November 13 Herald
December 12, 2020: Rescue 1 at 400 Getty Avenue fire
Ron Bombaro photo
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Ron Bombaro photo
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February 4, 2021: PFD mutual aid (E6, R2, B2) to assist Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Folignoto pull a 2-year-old girl and her mother from the frigid Passaic River
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February 12, 2021: Rescue 2 responding from quarters Bombaro video
April 1, 2021: Building entry (breaching a wall) drill Rescue 1 (USAR)
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April 8, 2021: Rescue Co. #2, Tour 4 getting it done at the annual Metro Strike Team Exercise. Cut through a concrete wall then a metal sheet. Support a collapsed ceiling and lift 2 huge slabs of concrete to rescue 3 people and a dog.
April 18, 2021: rescue at Passaic Falls - Members of Ladder 2 forced entry to the catwalk at the base of the hydroelectric plant, and Capt. Mike Scherer of rescue 2 donned swift water personal protection equipment and entered the cat walk. All the members assigned assembled the boat, rope and rigging gear. Members of Engine 4 set up downstream back-up with inflatable hose at the Alfano Bridge. A roof ladder was quick rigged to the catwalk to use for accessing the water since there was no access. The boat was lowered via a rope and pulley system built by Rescue 2 into the water where two members of Rescue 2 accessed the rescue boat. Using a pre-rigged safety line on a spool attached to the boat, they navigated the swollen post-rain Great Falls and reached the victim. Victim was medically assessed and placed in a life jacket and rope harness brought back to the catwalk, where his ascent was controlled by a rope and pulley system. CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS
Daily Voice.com
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August 31, 2021: Rescue of a person that fell down an embankment along the Passaic River bank. West Broadway and Memorial Drive - photos below are by Ron Bombaro
Click photos below to enlarge
September 1, 2021: Massive rainfall from superstorm Ida - From Tap into Paterson - Steve Lenox reported: As if nearly seven inches of rain and flooding in every corner of the city weren’t enough, members of the Paterson Fire Department were also confronted with a gas explosion that leveled a two-and-a-half story brick frame house on Canal Street Wednesday, Fire Chief Brian McDermott said Thursday. The incident, which is still under investigation, came at the height of Hurricane Ida’s onslaught, a weather event of epic proportions that necessitated the rescue of at least 250 residents during the night. 31 one of them, Mayor Andre Sayegh said, were taken to a temporary shelter that was established at International High School and made available to all Passaic County residents in need.
McDermott, who called it a “harrowing night,” described that local public safety crews had two high water vehicles, two rescue trucks, three boats, and two rapid deployment vehicles in action, all working together to rescue residents in both cars and homes. The Passaic County Sheriff's Office put an additional high water vehicle and two boats into use as well.
One of those rescued was a man who got stuck under a bridge in the area of Presidential Boulevard and Temple Street. Additionally, a Paterson firefighter and a patient were pulled from an ambulance by an aerial ladder. With street cleaning canceled, DPW workers were being redeployed to assist in storm cleanup, Sayegh said, while trash and recycling pickups will continue through the weekend.
While admitting that in his 26 years of service he had never seen a flood that came so quickly and was “so intense,” McDermott shared his appreciation for all of those that put themselves in harm’s way to save others. “We were prepared,” McDermott said.
McDermott, who called it a “harrowing night,” described that local public safety crews had two high water vehicles, two rescue trucks, three boats, and two rapid deployment vehicles in action, all working together to rescue residents in both cars and homes. The Passaic County Sheriff's Office put an additional high water vehicle and two boats into use as well.
One of those rescued was a man who got stuck under a bridge in the area of Presidential Boulevard and Temple Street. Additionally, a Paterson firefighter and a patient were pulled from an ambulance by an aerial ladder. With street cleaning canceled, DPW workers were being redeployed to assist in storm cleanup, Sayegh said, while trash and recycling pickups will continue through the weekend.
While admitting that in his 26 years of service he had never seen a flood that came so quickly and was “so intense,” McDermott shared his appreciation for all of those that put themselves in harm’s way to save others. “We were prepared,” McDermott said.
September 13, 2021: Summary of PFD actions
1. Over 300 people rescued. No deaths. 1 multiple alarm fire on Canal St. 1 aerial ladder rescue of ambulance crew and patient on Arch St.
2. Searched 2,000+ feet long culvert in Clifton confined space entry looking for bodies. Found nothing.
3. Did multiple river searches for bodies. 2 recovered.
4. High profile bridge rescue (photos below).
5. Total loss of 1 ambulance (EMS 7) and 1 Engine (a 2005 E-One spare) and 1 boat. Boat motor & Ambulance replaced.
6. HQ floor flooded. ServPro sanitized. All back to normal.
7. All rescue rope damaged. On order.
8. Madison Ave and Northside roofs damaged. To be repaired
9. City is without drinking water. Working with PD and DPW on water distribution. PFD set up 3 sites, multiple forklifts, 2 lull forklifts to travel the City, 3 rack trucks and a county pickup. Working about 10 hours per day. 3 Conex boxes arriving for on site security.
10. 12 water rescue suits damaged and on order.
EMS 7
Drilling through street to rescue man trapped below bridge
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Escape hole
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November 19, 2021: 48 Cianci Street working fire - Ron Bombaro photos
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June 30, 2022: PFD Rescue 2 and NJ Transit Police operate at a Technical Rescue/Rope Rescue patient down under a train trestle at the bank of the river at 5th Ave and Waite St