Welcome to Jackson Station 55

At 6:38 p.m.Saturday January 21, Jackson fire companies were called to a fire in which two homeless men were burned in a propane explosion inside an old trailer camper located at the rear of 95 North County Line Road.  “The flash fire caused third degree burns to the right arm and possible airway burn to a male age 42, and the second male, age 47, suffered first and second degree burns on his hands, forearm, and scalp,” stated Jackson Fire Station 55 Captain Jack Siedler, who served as the incident commander.  The male with the most severe injury was initially transported to Jersey Shore Memorial Hospital and later transferred to St. Barnabas Burn Center, and the second was transported to Kimball Hospital. An engine company crew from Jackson Station 55 temporarily located at Jackson Mills Station 54 on a cover assignment responded first and was on the scene within minutes.   Fire fighters from Station 55 and Cassville Station 56 had the fire under control within five minutes, however the camper was destroyed in the fast fire. An off-duty career fire fighter/EMT from Jackson Station 55 who happened to be driving by the fire also assisted the burn victims at the scene until the arrival of EMS. The nearby Freewood Acres Fire Company Station 19-5 provided coverage for Jackson Station 55 during the fire.

Emergency medical services at the scene and hospital transport were provided by the Jackson First Aid Squad and Mon-Oc EMT-Paramedics.  Jackson fire personnel cleared the scene at 11:18 p.m.

The entire fire incident is being investigated by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Jackson Building Code Officials, Jackson District 4 Fire Official, and the Jackson Police Department.

On the evening of Saturday, January 7, 2012, the Jackson Station 55 conducted the installation of new officers, and members and their guests enjoyed an evening of celebration commemorating 61 years of service to the Township of Jackson.

The following members were sworn in by the volunteer company for the coming year:

Administrative
President: Scott Jordan
Vice President: Vincent Koballa
Treasurer: Nick Prioli
Secretary: John Siedler IV
Ass’t Secretary: Lee Friedland

Firematic
Chief 5500: Tim Carson
Assistant Chief 5510: Mike Waters
Captain 5520: John Siedler III
Lieutenant: Matt Baader
Lieutenant: Chris Fagan
Lieutenant: Jody Somers
Lieutenant: Andrew Ford

Chief Tim Carson and Past President John Hussey presided over the event.  Mayor Mike Reina presided over the swearing-in of new officers.  During the evening, it was announced that the 2011 winners of the Firefighter’s Challenge were Lt. Matt Baader and Firefighter Robert Migliore.  Also announced was the 2011 Station 55 Firefighter of the Year — Assistant Chief Mike Waters.  Present as a special invited guests included Jackson Mayor Mike Reina, and Jersey City Fire Department retired Deputy Chief Robert W. “Butch” Cobb and his wife Diane — recognizing Chief Cobb’s excellent service to all the Jackson Township fire companies and Districts regarding the very successful Township 2011 Training Task Force Seminar held last November.

The following other township emergency service organizations and local mutual aid fire companies were recognized during the dinner for their assistance to Station 55 during the past year:  Jackson First Aid Squad 22; Jackson Police Department; Jackson Mills Fire Company Station 54; Cassville Fire Company Station 56, and the Whitesville Fire Company Station 57.  Also — Freewood Acres Station 19-3; Southard Fire Department Station 19-5; and the Freehold Township Independent Fire Department Station 16-1.

A large, newly constructed two-story home located on Pineoka Road in Jackson
was damaged by a fast moving fire late Tuesday night, December 20, 2011.  The
fire -- originating in the area of the home's fireplace and chimney -- had
already extended from inside the walls on the first floor into the second floor
and attic prior to the arrival of the fire department. Fire fighters from
Jackson Fire Station 55 and Jackson Mills Fire Station 54  responding to the
11:21 p.m. alarm initially found smoke pouring from the eaves of the house, with
a similar heavy smoke condition on the second floor. The homeowner and family
had safely evacuated from the structure.  Incident Commander Jackson Station 55
Fire Chief Tim Carson stated "the aggressive interior fire attack by crews
operating with hose lines on both floors and the attic simultaneously resulted
in stopping the fire damage quickly."  The fire was placed under control within
about 30 minutes from arrival.  Moderate smoke damage occurred in the portion of
the house nearest the fireplace and chimney on all floors.

Also responding to the fire were other Jackson departments from Whitesville
Station 57 and Cassville Station 56. Howell Township Southard and Freewood Acres
Fire Departments provided coverage of Jackson stations while they were on the
Pineoaka fire scene.  Fire department personnel cleared the scene at
approximately 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

There were no injuries suffered by residents or firefighters. The Ocean County
Fire Marshal's Office, Jackson First Aid Squad and Jackson Police Departments
also assisted at the scene of the fire. 

The second floor of a condominium unit located in the Crystal Brook section of Jackson was damaged in an early afternoon fire on Friday, December 9.  Just prior to noon, Stations 55, 54 and 57 were dispatched to a possible structure fire on Kim Court.  Jackson Mills Engine 5407 and Jackson Tower Ladder 5505 arrived within minutes and reported a working fire on the second floor.  Upon entry to the vacant unit, initial crews were met by heavy black smoke and heat at the top of the stairway leading to the second floor.  Once on the second floor, crews located a fire in a front bedroom caused by an overheated Shop Vac left on for more than two hours.  The vacuum unit melted and burned the floor and adjacent door. The condo unit sustained heavy smoke damage on the second floor.

Crews on Engine 5541, Engine 5521, Engine 5411, Engine 5421, Engine 5701, Rescue 5503, and Ladder 5405 assisted in the smoke venting and stretching of hand lines into the building.  There was no fire extension into the adjacent condos.

Quality EMS, Jackson Police and Jackson Fire Officials Frank McDonnell 18307 and Wally Jamison 18327 were on the scene.

Coverage of the Jackson fire stations during the fire was handled by mutual aid from the Lakewood and Pleasant Plains Fire Departments.

There were no injuries sustained by the building owner nor fire fighters on the scene.

Jackson fire departments cleared the scene at 2:29 p.m.

In the early morning hours of Saturday November 19, Station 55 personnel had just returned from a cover assignment  at Monmouth County Station 19-5 in Howell when Station 57 was dispatched to a house filled with smoke in the 400 block of Whitesville Road.  On arrival, Whitesville Station 57 Chief Scott Rauch requested Station 55 be added to the assignment, as he had smoke coming from “everywhere” at the house.  A fire in the walls nearest to the wood-burning stove had already spread into the interior void spaces and was headed to the second floor.  Ladder 5705 raised the Main to the roof so that crews could begin opening up, as one 1 3/4″ hand line was stretched outside and one inside to the second floor.  Crews from Engine 5701, Tanker Engine 5708, Ladder Tower 5505, Engine 5521 and Engine 5541 opened up walls and made a good stop on the fire.  Damage was contained to the first floor corner of a family room, and a second floor bathroom located directly over the family room.  Smoke damage was also limited due to the quick work by all crews on the scene.

The Lakewood Fire Department covered Station 55, and the Pleasant Plains Fire Company covered Station 57 during the Jackson fire.  Jackson First Aid and Jackson Police Department were also on the Whitesville Road scene.

The Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office  is conducting the fire origin investigation.

There were no injuries to the residents or fire fighters on the scene.

Station 55 was released from the fire around 0300 hours, Saturday morning.

Rescue of Occupants Away From Fire on First Floor Photo Courtesy Steve Gibson

Fire fighting operations to prevent fire spreading to roof Photo Courtesy Steve Gibson

Three Brewers Bridge Road Regency Club Apartment house residents – a mother, her son and daughter trapped by fire on their second floor balcony — were rescued via ladder by firefighters on Saturday afternoon October 29.  The residents moved to their balcony when heavy smoke blocked their exit from the front door. Fire damage was limited to the original fire apartment and the one located directly above, and there were no injuries.  Several adjacent apartments sustained light to moderate smoke damage. Residents living next to the two apartments were also evacuated and will be out of the building until gas, water, and heat can be restored. Fire fighters from Jackson Station 55, Jackson Mills Station 54, and Whitesville Station 57 immediately responded to the initial alarm at 1:38 p.m.  On first arrival with Engine Companies from Stations 55 and 54, Jackson Station 55 Assistant Chief Mike Waters requested a second alarm which brought mutual aid assistance from Southard Station 19-3, Freewood Acres Station 19-5, Cassville Station 56, and the Lakewood Fire Department.    In addition, the Millstone, New Egypt, Pleasant Plains, and Lakewood Fire Departments provided fire station coverage for the Jackson fire departments while they were on the Regency Club incident. Additional assistance was provided at the scene by the Jackson Municipal Utilities Authority, Quality Medical, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Jackson District 3 Fire Official, New Jersey Natural Gas, JCP&L, the Jackson Office of Emergency Management, and the Red Cross. Jackson Station 55 Chief Tim Carson stated “the quick response and immediate actions by fire fighters – some of which were just returning on their apparatus from a previous fire alarm right around the corner — prevented a more devastating outcome. We are proud of all of our members for their part in the effort but especially Station 55 FF George Bergner, FF Cliff Jordan and Station 54 Acting Captain Stan O’Brien Jr. for rescuing the victims off the balcony.” The cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Attention all firefighters: You are invited to join the Jackson Fire Training Task Force (Stations 54, 55, 56 & 57) for a unique one-day outstanding training seminar opportunity on Saturday, November 5 from 0900 to 1600 Hours. The seminar focused on learning from the best features guest speakers FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka; FDNY Lt. Mickey Conboy; Worcester MA District Chief John Sullivan; and (ret.) Jersey City Deputy Chief Robert Cobb. Please visit http://www.jacksonfiretrainingtaskforce.org/ for more details. See you there!

Station 55 Elects Administrative and Firematic Officers for 2012
The following members were elected by the company for the coming year:

Administrative
President: Scott Jordan
Vice President: Vincent Koballa
Treasurer: Nick Prioli
Secretary: John Siedler IV
Ass’t Secretary: Lee Friedland

Firematic
Chief 5500: Tim Carson
Assistant Chief 5510: Mike Waters
Captain 5520: Jack Siedler
Lieutenant: Matt Baader
Lieutenant: Chris Fagan
Lieutenant: Jody Somers
Lieutenant: Andrew Ford