It is with deep regret and sorrow to announce the death of Firefighter Darius Hunt. FF Hunt a 15-year Veteran died on Sunday April 4, 2010 in a tragic motorcycle accident. FF Hunt was married with two children. Visitation and services will be held on Thursday April 8 between the hours of 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Location will be Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium on the Campus of Dwight Morrow High School 274 Knickerbocker Rd

Repast FF Darius Hunt immediately after FD services:
Enlgewood American Legion
151 W Forest Ave
Englewood, NJ

Darius Hunt began his service with the City of Englewood in 1994 as a member of the city’s Department of Public Works. He transferred to the Fire Department in 1995 where he has served as a firefighter for the past 15 years. Firefighter Hunt was a member of the departments Hazardous Material team, Special Operations unit, and the Mid Bergen Hazardous Material team.

During his career FF Hunt received a Unit Citation in 1999 for his actions during tropical Storm Floyd, a Heroism award in 2000 for his rescue of residents trapped by floodwaters during the storm, and a Heroism Award in 2004 for assisting with the rescue of a firefighter who became trapped in a house fire while conducting interior fire suppression operations.

In addition, FF Hunt served in the United States Navy from 1987 until his honorable discharge in 1992. During his term in the Navy he was assigned to the USS Iowa and was cited for bravery during the 1991 explosion and fire which occurred on board the vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico.

“Firefighter Hunt was a dedicated member of the Englewood Fire Department and community, who, on more than one occasion placed himself in extreme danger to rescue city residents and fellow firefighters at emergency incidents. His devotion to his duties, his fellow firefighters, his family, and his friends will be truly missed”.

The members of I.A.F.F. 3260 & 3263 would like to thank everyone for their support in our fill the boot drive. In just 4 short days over $6200 was raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association!

ENGLEWOOD — Poison traps don’t make a dent in the mouse problem. The basement pipes are rife with asbestos. The ceilings leak. The urinals are broken. And the shower is overrun with mold.

But the opossum foraging in the kitchen of the William Street firehouse was the last straw. The size of a house cat, the marsupial was waddling near the water cooler, forcing firefighters to put down their sandwiches and kill it.

“It definitely becomes a morale issue when you have to clean up possum blood near the water cooler the next morning,” said Patrick Florio, president of the local firefighter’s union.

The third-largest in Bergen County, the Englewood Fire Department operates out of an 85-year-old firehouse beset by leaks, faulty wiring and crumbling infrastructure.

After decades of debate over whether to renovate the dilapidated firehouse, or simply tear it down, Fire Chief Robert Moran said plans are in the works to build a new headquarters on city-owned property at the corner of South Van Brunt Street, adjacent to the police station.

A preliminary proposal for the new building, which will house the fire department, code enforcement officials and the ambulance corps, is likely to be heard by the council in the next few months, Moran said. City officials applied for $5 million in funds from President Obama’s stimulus package to pay for a portion of the project.

“There’s an overwhelming need for a new space,” Moran said recently as he pointed out the cramped locker room, the moldy shower area – intended to be shared by 52 firefighters – and the broken urinals in the bathroom.

“It’s tough to work here in this environment and it affects the morale… it’s not conducive to being happy and productive and wanting to come to work every day when you’re battling various issues, from repairing the toilet to dealing with the mice,” Moran said.

The mouse infestation is such a known problem, it has turned into a joke Continue reading »

A smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a fire in your home and could mean the difference between life and death. Fires can occur in a variety of ways and in any room of your home. But no matter where or how, having a smoke alarm is the first key step towards your family’s safety.

This information is not intended to be all inclusive, but it is intended to inform the reader about some of the safety aspects and importance of having and maintaining working smoke alarms.

Why are Smoke Alarms Important?

Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. In a fire, smoke and deadly gases tend to spread farther and faster than heat. That’s one reason why most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns. A majority of fatal fires happen when families are asleep because occupants are unaware of the fire until there is not adequate time to escape. A smoke alarm stands guard around the clock and, when it first senses smoke, it sounds a shrill alarm. This often allows a family the precious but limited time it takes to escape.

About two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are considered to be one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early warning of a potentially deadly fire and could reduce the risk of dying from a fire in your home by almost half.

Where Should Smoke Alarms be Installed?

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.

A smoke alarm should be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When installing a smoke alarm, Continue reading »