Welcome to Jackson Station 55

Station 55 and 57 were dispatched for a possible structure fire at 2135 hours Friday night May 22 at the Regency Club Apartments.  While enroute, Ocean County Fire advised that there were reports of smoke coming from the building with smoke also evident in the adjacent apartments.
Assistant Chief Tim Carson 5510 responded from the main station, and Engine 5521 with Captain Mike Waters 5520 and Lt. Hank Muller 5530 on-board with a full crew was only minutes behind the Chief. 5510 arrived on scene and reported heavy smoke coming from the building.  5510 entered the apartment with Assistant Chief Dan Bradley 5710 to conduct a primary search, and found the resident had knocked the kitchen fire down with two dry chemical extinguishers and had already alerted his neighbors to the fire.

Chief Fatovic 5500 arrived on scene as Command and requested Station 56 to the scene and Freewood Acres to cover the main station.  5521′s crew stretched an inch and three quarter hand line on arrival.  Crews from 5521, 5505, 5503 with Station 54 overhauled the kitchen area and ventilated the apartments.

Three civilians from the second floor were injured, two were transported to Centra State Hospital by Jackson Fire Aid.  The third civilian was treated at the scene and did not require transport.  The apartment with the fire suffered moderate damage, there was no other damage within the building.  Jackson Police assisted with traffic and scene control.

Station 55 cleared the scene at 2320 hours.

Three Units Off at Regency Club — All Jackson Companies with Freewood Acres and Lakewood Fire Departments

A fast-moving fire that apparently started on a stove top ultimately consumed three second floor apartment units at Regency Club Building 12 on Monday October 13, 2008.

Ocean County Fire dispatched Stations 55 and 54 at 13:40 hours for a stove top appliance fire.  Right about at that time, Chief Chip Smith 5500 was leaving a meeting with administrators at the Bella Terra Healthcare facility on County Line Road less than a mile away, and upon hearing the tones, looked towards the direction of the Regency Club and observed a large column of smoke in the air.

He immediately radioed Ocean County to dispatch Stations 56 and 57, along with Freewood Acres for full assignments as he reported an obvious working fire.  On arrival, he also requested Lakewood Fire for a Ladder Company.  With heavy fire and smoke showing from three apartment units, Engine 5521 with FF Hank Muller operating and crew of FF’s Pat Reed, Scott Jordan, Jody Somers and Nick Prioli arrived on the scene and immediately deployed 2 - inch and three quarter attack lines to the second floor of Building 12.  5521′s crew was met with high heat conditions but was able to gain entry to begin knocking the fire, but meanwhile the fire extended into the common cockloft and involved the roof structure over their heads.  Engine 5411 arrived next and laid a supply line to the closest hydrant at Valley Road and New Prospect feeding 5521.  Ultimately, 5521 would have five attack lines in operation – four three inch-and three-quarters, and one two-inch lines in service.  Lakewood Ladder, Rescue 5503, Engine 5411, Ladder 5405, Ladder 5705, Ladder 5605, and Engine 5611 crew’s all were operating at the height of the job.  No ladder pipes or deck guns were needed due to the aggressive efforts of the hand line crews. Chief Smith 5500 declared the fire under control approximately one hour after arrival.

About a dozen apartment occupants evacuated in time, and while extensive property loss occurred within the building, did not suffer any injuries.  There are no fire sprinklers in the apartment units.

Jackson PD, Jackson First Aid and Quality Medical assisted at the scene. Additional Jackson Fire District Number 3 firefighters covered Station 55 during the fire.

As is routine, although the cause is likely due to cooking, the fire is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office.