On Wednesday morning November 5, 2008 companies were sent to Route 295 for a MVA, which was quickly upgraded to a Rescue Assignment. B303 (Domeracki) arrived to find one vehicle overturned with one female trapped inside the vehicle. Rescue 32 arrived and went into operation with stabilization. Engine 331 arrived and provided fire suppression with Squad 91 (Barrington) assisting with the rescue operation. Once stabilized, the companies completed a door and post removal. The victim was removed and transported by BLS 3. Companies restored their equipment and returned to service.

On Saturday October 25, Squad 32 relocated to the quarters of the Carneys Point Fire Department. The crew covered the department while they attended funeral services for one of their members. The Squad had one response which was an elevator with occupants trapped. The company returned to Bellmawr by 1600 hrs.

On Friday October 10, 2008 the Bellmawr Fire Department hosted their annual fire prevention open house at Station 33 on Essex Ave. The night was a huge success and widely attended by the people from the community. Various displays and demonstrations were provided to spread fire prevention education to all that attended. The department would like to thank all the mutual aid departments for atttending as well as Captain Kibler for coordinating the event.

  STATE HONORS BELLMAWR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH

 

            BELLMAWR -- The Bellmawr Fire Department has been honored by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development as a safety and health leader in the community with the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award.

           The award was presented to Chief Jim Burleigh by Assistant Commissioner Leonard Katz during a ceremony at the fire headquarters, located at 29 Lewis Avenue on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m.

 Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. and Freeholder Joseph Ripa, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Safety, also presented proclamations to the Department in recognition of the achievement. 

            Presentation of the SHARP award means the Bellmawr Fire Department recognizes the importance of job-site safety and the impact accidents have on workers and their families, on productivity, and on overall effectiveness and efficiency. It is one of approximately 20 SHARP awards presented throughout the year to enterprises in both the public and private sectors of the economy.  The Bellmawr Fire Department is the FIRST Fire Department in the State of New Jersey to receive this award. The SHARP award is the highest honor bestowed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Health and Senior Services. Station 2 and Station 3 both met the requirements.

            Burleigh credited all members of the department for this achievement. “They work hard every day to keep our workplace safe,” Burleigh said. “Our safety performance is a source of pride and we are committed to continue strengthening our safety program and its results.”

The Camden County Board of Freeholders have extended an invitation to all emergency responders and their families to attend the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new Emergency Training Center at the Lakeland Complex. The ribbon cutting will take place October 11th 2008 at 1:30pm with a Barbeque to follow from 2-5pm.  Great for the entire family. Please RSVP to the freeholders office at freeholders@camdencounty.com

On Tuesday morning several agencies participated in a hazardous materials training excercise at the US Postal Distribution Center on Benigo Blvd in Bellmawr. A simulated hazardous alarm with an unknown substance triggered the activation of resources and the decontamination of 20 employees. All agencies worked well with each other and discovered areas to be improved upon for an actual response. Agencies involved included E33/R32/B303, Haz-Mat 1 (Camden), Haz-Mat 5 (Gloucester City), Haz-Mat 8 (Gloucester Twp), Haz-Mat 13 (Cherry Hill), Camden County Haz-Mat & Health, Bellmawr EMS, Bellmawr OEM, Bellmawr Police, and US Postal Police & Haz-Mat.

Bellmawr Fire Departments takes Past Chief Raymond Simpson to his final resting place. Ray has touched so many people through out his life in so many positive ways he will sadly be missed. His leadership and guidance helped to get the Department were we are today. God Bless   

SIMPSON, RAYMOND A.
On September 4, 2008, of Bellmawr. Age 63.
Best friend and devoted husband of 39 years of Sandee L. (nee Carter). Loving father of Jeffrey R. and his wife Nicole. Adoring grandfather of Sophia Rae. Beloved son of Evelyn. Dear brother of Walter, Jr. and his wife Kathleen. Dear uncle of many nieces and nephews. Also survived by many cousins and his faithful companions: Nixon, Reagan, Jasper and Opie.
Mr. Simpson was the proud former Chief of Bellmawr Fire Rescue #1 and was very active in all community projects.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing Sunday evening from 6 to 9pm and Monday morning from 8:15 to 9:15am at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass Monday 10am, Mary Mother of the Church, Bellmawr. Interment New St. Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr. The family requests please do not send flowers, but kindly make a donation in Raymond's memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to the Kingsway Learning Center, PO Box 394, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-0394. Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to Condolences@Gardner FuneralHome.com

On Sunday August 31, 2008 at approx. 1613 hrs, Taskforce 33 was dispatched to 396 Flanders Rd for a reported dwelling fire. Battalion 303 (Domeracki) arrived to find a 1-story single family dwelling with heavy fire showing from Division A and PD reporting 1 victim trapped inside. L-33 and CFM-13 (Burleigh) arrived and attempted to conduct an interior search of the dwelling. Heavy fire conditions as well as extremely hazardous living conditions hampered the search efforts. E-33 & SQT-32 crews attacked the fire allowing the search to be continued. Members found a female victim in the rear bedroom, the victim was removed and CPR initiated by the FD members. Despite the valiant efforts of the members, the victim was pronounced a short time later by paramedics. L-73 (Westville) conducted ventilation, with Rescue 45 (Mt Ephraim) performing RIT duties, and E-75 (Runnemede) stretching and operating the 3rd attack line. Cascade 344 (Brooklawn) provided air supply services. The 2nd alarm was struck due to weather conditions which brought  E-21 (Haddon Heights), SQ-51 (Gloucester City), & Q-91 (Barrington) into the scene. SQ-27 (Lawnside) & TL-82 (Chews Landing) relocated to the quarters of Station 33. The fire was placed under control by B-303 in approx. 25 minutes. The fire is being investigated by the Camden County Fire Marshals Office and Prosecutors Office. This is Bellmawr's first fatal fire in over 8 years.

Rescue 32 and Engine 33 operated at a All Hands fire in nearby Magnolia.  2905 arrived within minutes of the dispatch and reported heavy fire showing and struck the all hands which brought in several surrounding communities: Chewslanding, Lawnside, Somerdale,Hi Nella, Glendora, Stratford and a rehab unit from Cherry Hill.  Several handlines quickly darkend the fire.  The Fire is being investigated by the Camden County Fire Marshal's Office, CCPO, and the Magnolia Police Department.

Rescue 32 and Battalion 303 responded as part of the Camden County Regional Task Force "C" to Winslow Twp. The Task Force was requested to relocate to the southern end of the county to provide regional coverage as numerous companies were operating at a 2-Alarm fire in Chesilhurst. The Task Force consisting of Engine 21 (Haddon Heights), Engine 291 (Magnolia), Squad 91 (Barrington), Quint 11 (Audubon), Rescue 32 (Bellmawr), and Battalion 303 (Bellmawr) staged at Station 253 (Winlsow Twp). The companies were committed until approx. 0800 hrs, until returning to their respective quarters.

On the morning of Thursday August 14, Rescue 32 was relocated to the quarters of Gloucester Twp 85 (Lambs Terrace) while the Gloucester Twp companies were operating at an All Hands dwelling fire. Rescue 32 along with Ladder 101 (Washington Twp) provided coverage until released @ approx. 0830 hrs.

At approx. 20:50 hrs, companies were dispatched to Route 295 S/B for a reported vehicle fire. Mt Ephraim Chief Scullan (401) arrived to find a tour bus well-involved with approx. 30 occupants evacuated on the highway. Gloucester County units arrived 1st due w/ Squad 32 & Engine 45 (Mt Ephraim) arriving behind them. B303 (Kibler) arrived and assumed Operations. Crews quickly extinquished the fire and performed overhaul. The bus occupants were transported to Station 33 for shelter until a new bus arrived.

Squad  75 (Runnemede), Rescue 32 (Bellmawr), and  BLS 787 responded to Traprock, a business on the Black Horse Pike in Runnemede for a reported overturned dump truck with entrapment.  Rescue 32 was returning to quarters from a dwelling fire in neighboring Mt Ephraim when the run came in.  R-32 arrived first due to find a tri-axle dump truck on it's side. Further investigation found that the driver had self extricated himself. The crews from R-32 and SQD-75 assisted with patient packaging and secured the vehicle. The patient was transported by BLS 787.