Newark, NJ - October 22, 2009 - Mayor Cory A. Booker, Municipal Council President Mildred Crump, Fire Director David Giordano, and Fire Chief Michael Lalor unveiled the Fire Department’s new Hazmat Response and Rescue Truck, at The Newark Museum, located at 49 Washington Street, in Newark, this morning.

Painted in traditional red and gold, the Emergency-One Heavy Rescue vehicle is 41 feet long, and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for search and rescue, automobile crashes, hazardous materials responses, and other emergency situations. It will be based at the Fire Department’s Orange Street facility in the Central Ward. It replaces an outdated 16-year-old vehicle.

“When most people run away from a fire, these brave Firefighters run towards the fire. These men and women who risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Newark will no longer need to worry about old and faulty equipment,” Mayor Booker said. “It is a disservice to continue to send firefighters into dangerous situations without the proper equipment. The men and women that keep us safe and secure need to be safe and secure. This vehicle is a symbol of the honor and gratitude that Newark residents have for the men and women of the Newark Fire Department as they dedicate their lives on a daily basis to building a stronger, prouder, and safer Newark.”

“I would like to thank Mayor Booker, the Newark Municipal Council, and the entire administration for their unwavering commitment to public safety,” Chief Lalor said. “The Newark Fire Department could not do the job that we do without Mayor Booker, the Council, and the Administration supplying the tools and equipment necessary for our day-to-day operations, as they have, for the past three an a half years.”

The new vehicle offers the following features:

·   The truck is computerized, with broad band capability which gives enhanced capabilities via internet giving Firefighters access to unlimited information and resources, such as: chemical emergency response information; Vehicle Identification information to determine safe vehicle extrication; satellite capability, which allows the user to visibly get a 360-degree picture of a building from a remote location, identify lay outs egress, elevations, exposures, and access points.

·   The truck is equipped with two complete sets of state-of-the-art core technology extrication tools for car crashes, located on both sides of the truck which allows for a quicker extrication of car occupants in crashes.

·    The vehicle also has a Robotic Search Camera, which gives the crew capability to examine confined space areas and voids without entering a hazardous atmosphere. This robot allows the crew to be a maximum distance of 650 feet from the incident. The attached full-motion color camera itself is able to enter a void as small as five inches by five inches, enabling the crew to visually view, zoom and record an incident scene. The whole system can be used underwater to a depth of 100 feet and when used with its magnetic attachment can be used to inspect undersides of vessels.

·    The vehicle also has a 35-kilowatt generator, an air compressor with two reels, a portable 9,000-pound winch, and a 9,000-watt light tower.

This truck will be on-call 24 hours a day, with crews trained and equipped to address fire-related search and rescue; vehicle extrication; urban search and rescue; confined space rescue, high angle rescue and hazardous materials response.

The unveiling was held as part of the observances for National Fire Prevention Month, and nearly 50 pre-schoolers from Page Academy, located on Central Avenue, attended the event. The Newark Fire Department and The Newark Museum are partnering to reach out to the community to promote fire safety and the installation of smoke alarms in homes.

“Life is better and safer here in Newark thanks to this new Hazmat and Rescue vehicle. Our firefighters will no longer have to worry about old or unreliable equipment. The Municipal Council and the Mayor are proud that the best firefighters in the country now have the best technology and equipment possible,” said Municipal Council President Crump.

Chief Lalor also noted the significance of unveiling a new fire truck during National Fire Prevention Month, reminding residents of the importance of knowing your home’s floor plan; knowing two ways out; installing working smoke alarms; setting up a meeting place once outside; and holding home fire drills.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, U.S. fire departments responded to 386,500 home fires nationwide in the year 2008. Cooking fires were the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries nationwide, accounting for 40 percent of reported home fires and 36 percent of related injuries. However, smoking materials, (cigarettes, cigars, and pipes) caused one in four fire deaths in the United States in 2006.

“Improperly used space heaters, overloaded plugs, and defective wiring also account for many fires and resulting tragedies,” Chief Lalor added. “Keep space heaters away from drapes, furniture, and bedding. Never empty ashtrays into the trash, and be careful with candles. Never leave them unattended and don’t go to sleep with them burning.”

Having a working smoke alarm in the home cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Smoke alarms should be installed on all floors of the home and inside each bedroom. They should be tested monthly, and batteries replaced twice a year.

Since 2006, the Newark Fire Department, under the leadership of Fire Director David Giordano, has opened new and renovated fire stations, and added new vehicles to its inventory. In 2008, the Department graduated the 39th Recruit Class of 18 recruits from the Fire Academy. The Newark Fire Department also has a number of specialized units, including an Arson Unit, a Hazardous Materials Unit, a Fireboat, a Confined Space Rescue Team, a Foam Tanker, and a Cascade Unit, which responds to emergency scenes to fill air bottles. In addition, the Department is one of only nine in the State of New Jersey whose Metro Strike Team has a Collapse Unit, to deal with collapsed buildings. Most of the Department’s specialized units are assigned for regional response, to assist neighboring communities that lack such equipment and training.

Anyone with additional questions about fire safety or any other City of Newark program or policy should contact the City’s Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.


Contact:        Newark Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004.