Author Archives: chuckm
Shell Oil Appreciation
On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the Woodbridge Fire Department presented representatives from the Shell Oil Industrial Terminal located in Sewaren with plaques to express its gratitude and appreciation for their support and dedication to training and public safety. Sean Murphy (Operations Manager), Paul Fatum (Maintenance and Business Service Manager), and Brian Pado (Operations Maintenance Coordinator) have worked closely with the members of the Woodbridge Fire Department and have been an integral addition to the Department’s pre-plan and preparedness initiative. Industrial firefighting presents unique challenges that require strategic planning and tactics as well as specialized tools and equipment that differ from traditional structural firefighting.
The Sewaren Terminal is the largest of all Shell terminals in the world with the second largest being in Carson City, California. With that knowledge, Shell recognized the need for specialized training and continues to graciously sponsor two members from the Woodbridge Fire Department to attend the annual Shell Corporate Fire School at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service in College Station, Texas. It is at this multi-day, hands-on training that firefighters learn the best approach to a major incident in an industrial facility to be better prepared should it occur, like the lightning strike that caused a fire in the Sewaren Shell Oil Terminal on June 11, 1996. This year, Shell also sponsored two additional attendees from the Middlesex County Hazardous Materials Unit, of whom the Woodbridge Fire Department works with closely.
It is also imperative to conduct individualized training that is specific to the Sewaren Terminal as it pertains directly to the facility in our backyard. Shell and its employees open their gates to the members of the Woodbridge Fire Department each year to participate in simulated fire and water rescue incidents. These simulations afford the Department the opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses so that improvements can be made alongside the employees at Shell.
Lastly, Shell understands that the specialized equipment required to safely, effectively, and quickly mitigate industrial incidents comes with a hefty price tag. Shell supports the Department’s purchases of this equipment to ensure its preparedness while also eliminating the financial burden on the taxpayers of Fire District #1.
The Woodbridge Board of Fire Commissioners, Chief Michael Balog, Deputy Chief Robert Minkler Jr., Deputy Chief Stephen Weber, Pre-Plan Battalion Chief Mark Minkler, and all members of the Woodbridge Fire Department extend their heartfelt thanks to Sean, Paul, Brian, and the entire Shell organization for their continued support of the Woodbridge Fire Department and to their dedication to ensuring the safety of the residents of District #1.
Newly Appointed Officers
Commissioner Jeff Moran, Commissioner Jay Barcellona, Captain Ryan Horvath, Battalion Chief Chad Carrick, Deputy Chief Robert Minkler Jr., Commissioner Robert Minkler Sr., Chief Michael Balog, Deputy Chief Stephen Weber, Commissioner Jack Kenny, Battalion Chief Michael Mastanduno, Captain Michael Magda, Commissioner Patrick Kenny
Captain Michael Magda, Captain Ryan Horvath, Deputy Chief Robert Minkler Jr., Chief Michael Balog, Deputy Chief Stephen Weber, Battalion Chief Michael Mastanduno, Battalion Chief Chad Carrick
Residents of Fire District 1 Budget Vote
To the residents and businesses of Woodbridge Fire District #1
The Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire District #1 would like to provide you the following information in light of questions and concerns brought to our attention regarding the upcoming Fire District Budget and Referendum questions on Saturday, February 18, 2023.
The 2023 budget we are asking the public to approve is for approximately $17 million, of which, $15.3 million is to be raised by taxation. Included in this amount are previously voter approved items such as replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus, replacement of two way radios, and firehouse modifications to make the building drainage system compliant.
The $17 million budget includes the $3.4 million being asked for in the referendum question to hire 12 additional firefighters. This cost is comprised of salary, benefits, pension, training, uniforms, personal protective equipment, and other specialized rescue equipment. The additional personnel are needed to maintain minimum standards of safe staffing levels for our residents and our firefighters. Unfortunately, over the last decade, we have seen a drastic reduction in community members volunteering to be firefighters due to societal changes and increases in training hours and requirements. In 2012 we had an average of 6.4 volunteers responding to an incident whereas in 2022 that number was 1.5. The Board of Fire Commissioners has been proactive in trying to replace those 5 less people responding to you when you call 9-1-1 in cost effective ways. A recruitment company was contracted to promote the volunteer fire company and recruit volunteer firefighters but has not been as successful as hoped. The Board of Fire Commissioners has also entered into automatic aid agreements with neighboring departments to provide assistance but due to their own call volume may not always be available when needed. These 12 additional firefighters will provide more personnel available to help you at a cost of approximately $350 a year or .95¢ per day.
The Board of Fire Commissioners hopes to have your support on this budget and referendum. As always, we are here to address any questions or concerns.
Call us anytime at 732-602-6040 and ask for Chief Michael Balog or Lisa.
Thank you
Bailout Training
WFD Open House
On Wednesday, October 12th, the Woodbridge Fire Department and Fire Prevention Bureau hosted their annual open house, welcoming the public to Woodbridge Fire Headquarters located on School Street for a night of fun, food, and fire safety education. Members of the Department, along with some of the most recent graduates of the Woodbridge Junior Fire Academy, displayed the dangers of and techniques to extinguish cooking fires, performed a live motor vehicle extrication drill, held hose lines with children in attendance that wanted to flow water from a real fire hose, handed out fire safety information on a wide variety of topics like carbon monoxide detectors and Halloween safety, and attendees were able to enjoy complimentary hot dogs and Italian ice along with receiving balloon art and airbrush tattoos. The night wrapped up with a magic show full of fun illusions and lessons on how to be fire safe. This is a night that the Department looks forward to each year, most notably by the Fire Official, Captain Robert Fizer.
“Fire Prevention Open House is one of the most important events that we get to put together. It brings to light all of the most current and vital fire safety and prevention methods to date and allows the public to interact with our members on a more personal level,” says Fizer. “Community outreach is always a priority for us here at Station #1, but being able to educate the public on how to prevent fires as much as possible or safely escape them when they occur is paramount.”
Commissioner Jeff Moran agrees. “We’re here to serve the residents of Fire District #1, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That doesn’t only mean during emergencies. Ideally, we would like to help prevent fire emergencies from happening and performing Fire Prevention Week shows at the district’s childcare facilities and schools as well as events like Open House are a perfect opportunity to do so.”
The Woodbridge Fire Department would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all that attended and helped making this year’s Open House a success and look forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s event!
WFD 2022 Open House
WFD Sept. Training
During the weeks of September 19th and 26th, WFD personnel traveled to the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville to perform motor vehicle extrication drills. These trainings are crucial as they afford fire department personnel the opportunity to get hands on experience using extrication tools and provide scenarios in which stabilization of an overturned vehicle is required with crash-test dummy victims needing to be extricated. Vehicles donated to the Middlesex County Fire Academy vary and allow firefighters to see first-hand how different vehicles will pose unique problems when involved in a situation requiring extrication, especially when time is of the essence.
2022 Junior Fire Academy
During the weeks of July 11 and July 18, 2022, the Woodbridge Fire Department hosted their fourth annual Junior Fire Academy. These two, week-long camps are designed to teach and promote teamwork, discipline, and a better understanding of the fire service from the perspective of firefighters and officers. Attendees, all of middle school age, met and worked directly with Woodbridge Fire Department personnel in hands-on training sessions performing numerous tasks that are executed during emergency operations. Campers not only toured and worked at Station 1 located on School Street in Woodbridge, but were also taken to the Middlesex County Fire Academy to see where current and recruit firefighters perform live-burn trainings and educational seminars. They were also introduced to the Middlesex County HAZMAT team and given a tour of the HAZMAT facilities, apparatus, and equipment. Before the completion of the camp, all attendees successfully passed the American Heart Association’s CPR training course and became certified in adult, child, and infant CPR. The Board of Fire Commissioners, Administration, and personnel at Woodbridge Fire would like to extend their heartfelt congratulations to the 2022 Junior Fire Academy graduates and thank them for their dedication and hard work.