Month: February 2013

February 22^nd 2013, Cedar Grove Fire Fighters stood by for Totowa Firefighters as they worked to extinguish a house fire on Lincoln Avenue in Totowa.  T.F.D. received the call at 9:48 p.m. and extinguish the blaze in about an hour.

Digging Out! Removal of snow from around fire hydrants.

After snow storms, when needed, members of the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department are detailed out to remove snow from hydrants.  Although the Cedar Grove Township Ordinance requires "All fire hydrants on private property which may become covered by snow shall have such snow removed within 12 hours after the snow ceases to fall in order to enable the Fire Department to locate said fire hydrant." Chief Tower asks residents to clear snow from hydrants located on or near their properties. Its a matter of, when there is a fire, precious time can be lost locating and clearing a fire hydrant.

Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.

The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.

Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.

Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.

Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

 Winter Car Survival Kit

With weather forecasters predicting blizzard conditions the Townships' Volunteer Fire Fighters will be staffing their respective fire houses. Chief Tower advises that members will be staffing the North End, Center, and South End Fire Houses during the peak storm period and reminds residents to Call 911 to Report an Emergency.

Cedar Grove Fire Chief Michael Tower reports that on 02-13-2013 at 5:14 in the morning The Cedar Grove Fire Department responded on the report of a fire at 128 Anderson Parkway. Upon arrival the home owner had self-evacuated the residence. Firefighters located a fire in the basement of the house. The fire was extinguished quickly. The homeowner was transported to the hospital by The Cedar Grove Ambulance and Rescue Squad.  No firefighters were injured.  Chief Tower noted that Basement Fires are typically difficult to control due to limited access and egress to the fire area.  However Cedar Grove Firefighters were able to hold the fire to the area of origin.  Extensive overhauling kept firefighters at the scene for some time.  Cedar Grove Fire Department was assisted by North Caldwell, Little Falls, and Bloomfield Fire Departments at the scene.  Montclair, Caldwell and Verona Fire Departments provided coverage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.