

FIREFIGHTERS DEVELOP FREE PROGRAM
TO HELP OUT COMMUNITY


The Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association (I.A.F.F. Local 290) in cooperation with the Board of Fire Commissioners of Districts 1,2, and 7 (Woodbridge, Sewaren, Port Reading, and Fords) have developed a program aimed at educating residents and providing them smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and also home fire extinguishers at no cost to the residents. This program which is currently raising funds through grants and donations will focus on educating the residents on the importance of fire safety and making sure that their detection devices are in place and operating properly. Local 290 President Keith Repace states the outline of how the program will work is that the firefighters, either as part of their daily duties or on their off time will visit residents who have scheduled an appointment through the fire prevention bureau and conduct a fire safety inspection of the home. This will consist of meeting residents at their homes, showing them common fire hazards, teaching families how to draw up and effectively practice a fire safety plan, showing them how to properly use a fire extinguisher, and also to inspect or replace and if necessary install new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as installing/inspecting home fire extinguishers.
This program was scheduled to start in February but got an early start when a small fire broke out in the basement of the home of a Woodbridge resident. A quick thinking homeowner saved his families home by properly using a fire extinguisher to knock down the fire. Had the family member not been in the basement at the time of the fire the results could have been much worse due to the fact that there was no working smoke detector in the basement. Within a day the Woodbridge Fire Department was at the home installing new smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers. The homeowner also received a home safety inspection and was shown ways in which to prevent fires as well as how to safely escape in the event of a fire.
Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. Most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries, while smoking materials still remain the leading cause of home fire deaths. Over 70 % of the reported home structure fires and 84% of the fatal home fires occur in one or two family homes. More than half of these deaths and injuries occur in fires that happen at night while the victims are asleep. Roughly three-quarters of all fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms or where smoke alarms were not present at all. These facts are a scary reality especially when a working smoke alarm can provide an early warning to the presence of fire, thus allowing more time for loved ones to get out safely in the event of a fire.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is also known as “the silent killer”. This is because it is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. It is the cause of up to 500 accidental deaths each year and a much larger number of sub-lethal poisonings. For this reason it is extremely important that you have a properly working CO detector. Many lives could be saved and much disability prevented if residents could learn to recognize and prevent the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Preventive efforts such as checking furnace flues, chimneys, and vents for blockages and for proper installation could help to alleviate the hazard. Also make sure they are clear of snow and ice during the winter months. Using good common sense and not trying to heat the home using open flames, ovens and other appliances not intended for heating could reduce the number of carbon monoxide related incidents. It is also recommended that homeowners have their complete heating systems checked before every heating season.
Keeping these safety tips in mind will help to ensure that you and your family stay safe not only through the winter months but throughout the entire year. To learn more about fire safety issues and what you can do, visit our website at www.woodbridgefireprevention.org . If you have any questions regarding fire safety or if you live in the participating fire districts and would like to schedule an appointment for your home fire inspection and smoke detector inspection contact the Woodbridge Fire Prevention Bureau at 732-602-6040.



IAFF LOCAL 290 IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A NEW FUNDRAISING PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRIDIAN ENERGY. BY SWITCHING YOUR ELECTRIC PROVIDER TO VIRIDIAN ENERGY YOU SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL AND IAFF LOCAL 290 RECEIVES $2 PER MONTH. ITS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR YOU AND US! FOR DETAILS GO TO
WWW.VIRIDIAN.COM/WOODBRIDGEFIREFIGHTERS
WHEN YOU SWITCH TO VIRIDIAN ENERGY USE IAFF LOCAL 290'S ASSOCIATE NUMBER WHICH IS 10671 AND LOCAL 290 WILL RECEIVE $2 PER MONTH FROM VIRIDIAN ENERGY!
Switch to Viridian Energy
Switching is FREE and No Hassle!
It takes less than 5 minutes and appears on your utility bill.
+ No Contracts
+ 20% Renewable Green Energy
+ No Credit Checks
+ Low Variable Rate
+ Easy Sign up
+ No Enrollment Fees
+ No Cancellation Fees
+ One Bill with Your Utility
It’s about time you saved some money!


RECENT NEWS 12 CLIP ABOUT SWITCHING YOUR ELECTRIC PROVIDER.
REMEMBER I.A.F.F HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRIDIAN ENERGY. VIRIDIAN HAS NO CONTRACT TO SIGN NO SIGN UP FEES NO EARLY TERMINATION FEES AND BEST OF ALL I.A.F.F. LOCAL 290 RECEIVES $2 PER MONTH FOR EVERYONE WE SIGN UP! SO SIGN UP TODAY!!

HONORING:
CAPT. LEONARD MINKLER JR
CAPT. RICHARD FOERCH
FIREFIGHTER EDWARD McGUINN
FIREFIGHTER THOMAS DISTELCAMP
FIREFIGHTER MARIO SIMEONE
WHEN:
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2011
WHERE:
ARIANNA'S GRAND
800 RAHWAY AVENUE
WOODBRIDGE ,NJ 07095
COCKTAIL HOUR 6PM
DINNER 7PM-11PM
OPEN BAR
TICKET PRICE $35
TO PURCHASE TICKETS CONTACT:
ROBERT MINKLER JR (732)-713-9844
MARK MINKLER (908) 705-6650

WOODBRIDGE — A Woodbridge man remained in critical condition Wednesday, two days after he was injured in a fire at his Port Reading home, authorities said.
X was left unresponsive and hospitalized after the blaze on Willow Street, which is considered accidental in nature, police said.
The fire claimed the life of the man’s two dogs.
The blaze was reported by Carteret firefighter Bob Magella, who was on his way to dinner about 5:45 p.m. Monday when he saw smoke coming from inside the home, police said. Magella then stopped his car, ran up to the home and opened the door to find smoke filling the home and flames coming from the bottom of the steps.
He yelled into the home but heard no response, then shut the door as he heard sirens in the distance, according to a police report.
It was not immediately clear how long it took to bring the fire under control. But as police officers Nicholas Iacovou and Kevin Hawley arrived, Carteret First Aid Squad members were performing CPR on the homeowner, according to Iacovou’s report.
The squad later took the homeowner, identified as X, to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway. Hospital spokeswoman Donna Mancuso said Wednesday afternoon that X was listed in critical condition.
The victim’s brother told police that he had been inside the house by himself with two dogs, a police report said. The dogs died from smoke inhalation.
A second occupant was not home at the time of the fire, police said.
Investigators found that the blaze began in a utility room on the ground floor and traveled up the stairs and into the living room, police said. That left the utility room with fire, heat and smoke damage and the upstairs with smoke and heat damage.
It was not immediately clear Wednesday if officials had determined a cause.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO SEE A BRIEF STORY ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS FROM NEWS12 NJ FEATURING AMONG OTHERS, OUR OWN CAPT. JEFF MORAN
http://www.news12.com/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=271391&position=1&news_type=news
If you would like to contribute to assist Asbury Park FF Jason Fazio who was seriously injured in fire on Jan 10, 2011 please send checks made out to "Asbury Park FF Local 384" care of Jason Fazio, 800 Main Street, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. For updates on his condition go to www.asburyparkfirefighters.net or if you are a member of Facebook click here

PLEASE WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH ABOUT PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS.
CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY
Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels burn incompletely. In the home, heating equipment that burns fuel is a potential source of carbon monoxide
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have teamed up to promote their joint fire safety campaign, “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires,” and urge everyone to take the following precautions to prevent carbon monoxide in their homes:
Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside. During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified professional.
If you use a generator, make sure it’s used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent.
Install CO alarms in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards.
If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move everyone in your home to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door and call for help. Stay there until emergency personnel arrive to investigate the cause.
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For more heating fire safety advice from NFPA and USFA’s “Put a Freeze on Winter” campaign, visit www.nfpa.org/winter.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED OFFICERS IN DISTRICT 1
Captain Daniel Vitello(C-2) 
Lieutenant Robert Paul(L-1) 
June 30,2010
Tour 3 battles blaze details to come

June 12, 2010
IAFF Local 290 members hosted a Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser for MDA. In all over $5000 was raised.Special thanks to Brother Mastanduno for running the event.

IAFF Local 290 members along with MDA ambassador Sierra Acevedo
Fire Prevention Bureau and Tour 3 participate in Woodbridge Township Community Advisory Panel's "Safety Day" Emergency Services program June 2, 2010



Please Grill and BBQ Safely

June and July are the peak months for Grill fires. With approximately 1/3 of the 7900 annual grill and barbecue fires occuring during this 2 month period according to the NFPA. Remember to keep grills away from the house and off balconies and call 9-1-1 immediately if a fire does occur. Click here for a Grilling Safety brochure from the NFPA
As we approach Independence Day Please rember that Fireworks are not only Dangerous but are ILLEGAL in the State of NJ


IN REMEMBERANCE OF OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY
FROM OF OUR FMBA BROTHERS
TOUR 3 AND NJ ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEET WITH WOODBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

TOUR 3 ALONG WITH ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FLIGHT CREW AND WOODBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STAFF DURING RECENT VISIT TO WMS

FF M. MASTANDUNO AND C. CARRICK
Local 290 member receives PFANJ Commendation Award for off duty actions

Firefighters R.Paul, J. Boelhower, J.Kogut & W. Kogut at 2010 PFANJ Valor Awards
District 1 has recently added 3 probationary firefighters to the career department.

Probationary Firefighters C.Carrick, R.Fizer and S.Weber