On March 14th at approximately 1943hrs, Station 51 was alerted to a brush fire in the woods between Helmetta Rd. and Old Forge Rd. Crews from Station 51, Jamesburg J-3 and the State Forest Fire Service used two brush trucks to suppress the fire. Brush 51(Capt Costa) and a State Brush unit had to off road approximately a mile into the woods to reach the fire. Chief 51 (Pipero) had command, while Deputy 51 (Kivet) had operations.

On Friday, March 13th at approximately 0330hrs, Units were dispatched to 59 North State Home Rd. for a Barn Fire. Chief 51 was first to arrive and found a 50 X 30 storage garage well involved. Engine 23-7 (Central Monroe) arrived and laid in a 5” line and Lt. Volmann’s crew lead off with a preconnect. Squad 51 (Capt. Costa and Lt. Stienhauser) arrived second due and pulled a 3” Blitz line. Operations (Deputy 51 Kivet) advised command that minimal progress was being made. At that time, Command struck a 2nd Alarm, bringing in Engine 36 from Helmtetta , Engine 74 from Spotswood, Applegarth Engine 57-2 and an Engine from South Old Bridge to stage at station 51. 
    Ladder 23-8 arrived and outside vented the building and removed the propane tanks that were attached to the bravo side. Rescue 51 (Lt. Hayes) and Applegarth Engine 57/ Tanker 57 (Lt. Scott Volkmann) arrived and opened up the garage door on charlie side with a K-12. The fire was placed under control after approximately 40mins. Plainsboro Ladder 49 and Hightstown Engine 41 covered Dist 2 and 3.

On March 9th at 1815hrs, Station 51 was detailed by Middlesex County Fire Bureau to Edison for a water supply. Engine 51 (Lt. Hayes) with a crew of 5 responded to assist with a relay due to an overturned tractor trailer hazmat. Crews didn’t return till close to midnight.

On March 9th, 2009 at approximately 0645hrs, Ladder 51 was requested to respond to 1711 Englishtown Rd for a Structure Fire. The fire was started when a truck hit a pole causing an electrical surge to the residence. Ladder 51 (B. Murphy) with a crew of 5 assisted South Old Bridge with Truck Company Operations.

On March 7th, 2009 at 1600hrs, Station 51 was alerted to a reported fire in the woods behind Woodland School. While enroute, Chief 51(Pipero) was able to observe a large column of smoke coming up from the woods. He immediately requested a brush truck from Spotswood. Engine 51 arrived and went into service with a 300’ preconnect. Brush 51 and State Forest Fire Service B-10 arrived and discovered the fire to involve a large area of illegally dumped plastic and surrounding brush. Engine 23-7 assisted with a water supply.

    On March 4th, 2009 at approximately 7:30pm units were dispatched to 8 Holmes Ave. for a structure fire. Safety 51 Rich Hayes and Chief 51 Lonnie Pipero arrived first to find a one story single family dwelling with heavy fire venting from the alpha/bravo corner. Squad 51 and Ladder 51 (each rig manned with 6 firefighters) mounted an aggressive interior attack. Command had the Squad 51 lead off with a 2” CAFS preconnect, while Ladder 51 conducted a search of the dwelling due to reports of possible entrapment. Engine 23-7 (Central Monroe) laid in to the scene from Spotswood Ave to Squad 51 and Lt. K. Volkmann’s crew stretched a back up preconnect. Rescue 51 arrived and conducted a secondary search, while Ladder 23-8 arrived and vertically vented. Additional units on location were Spotswood Engine 74 (RIT TEAM), Applegarth Engine 57 / Tower 57, a South Old Bridge Engine, and Helmetta Engine 36. Middlesex County Fire Coordinators arrived and assisted with station fill-ins.

In the early morning hours of February 26th, Station 51 was clearing up from a CO detector activation, when they were alerted Mutual Aid into Station 57’s district for a structure fire. Squad 51 (Lt. Hayes) arrived 2nd due and assisted with suppressing a fire in a crawl space. The fire was placed quickly under control by all Monroe Fire Company’s.

    On February 15th, Station 51 was detailed to Ave K near 12th St. for heavy smoke in the area. Deputy 51 (Kivet) arrived in the area and reported that it appears to be a brush fire with heavy smoke in the old outcult section. A brush truck was quickly requested from Spotswood and also a response from State Forest Fire Service. Police Headquarters updated command that it’s a confirmed brush fire on Old Forge Rd, between the Helmetta border and Ave. K. On arrival of the actual location, command reported a brush fire heading towards an exposure. Engine 51 and State Forest Fire Service B-10 arrived and went into service with a Foam line to protect the exposure. B-10 “pumped and rolled” the fire making an aggressive attack. Brush 51 and Brush 71 arrived and went to work on the fire with hand tools. Extensive mop-up was required. Additional crews from the State Forest Fire Service assisted with Sta. 51 and Sta. 71. 

On February 11th at 1210hrs, Helmetta Station 36 was dispatched to a 43 Lake Dr. for a reported structure fire. Passing by Brookview Safety Officer Ray Hippoli stopped and advised incoming Engine 36 of a working structure with possible entrapment.  Engine 36 acknowledged and asked for a 2nd alarm to be dispatched, bringing Ladder 51, a Jamesburg Engine, and an Engine from Spotswood. Engine 36 arrived and was able to pickup there own water supply. Engine 36 then went into service with a 2.5 preconnect. Ladder 51 arrived 2nd due and vertically vented the residence. Spotswood Engine 72 arrived and conducted a search of the dwelling. Interior crews were met with heavy heat, smoke and fire conditions. A well noted aggressive attack was mounted by Engine 36 resulting in a great knock down. Rescue 51 was also on location to provide air rehab, and manpower. County Coordinator Kramer and Fire Marshal Mike Gallagher assisted with providing station coverage and an additional Engine from Brookview

On February 10th, Station 51 was alerted to a garage fire at 41 Forest Park Terrace. Squad 51  arrived to find an extinguished fire in the garage. Crews checked for extension and cancelled station 23 and 57 units.

On January 9th, 2009, MTVFC#1 had a special request from Fox Channel 5 for one of our specialty pieces. Brush 51 was contracted out to be on the new series FRINGE. Brush 51 was placed in the woods at a filmed plane crash. The episode is expected to be air in late February to early April

 On January 5th, 2009, MTVFC#1 was dispatched for a Mutual Aid Ladder Truck to South Old Bridge Fire District #3 (Emily Ct) for a Working Structure Fire. Upon arrival of Chief Verne instantly called for a 2nd alarm as he was challenged with a 2 story single family dwelling with heavy fire on all divisions and major exposure problems. South Old Bridge Engine 310 arrived and established their own water supply. They then led off with a blitz attack from their deck gun and a 2 ½ preconnect. Ladder 51 (Capt. Costa and D/C Kivet) arrived 2nd due and went to Exposure B. Numerous other hand lines were stretched to protect the exposure and attack the fire building. A bulk of the fire was knocked down with in 20 minutes of the fire apparatus arrival. Extensive overhaul was carried out by South Old Bridge Fire Company, MTVFC#1, East Brunswick-Old Bridge VFC, Cheesequake FD, and Roberstville Fire Company. A 3rd Alarm was detailed as cover companies for South Old Bridge.

On January 3rd, 2009, MTVFC#1 responded Mutual Aid with Engine 51 (Alteria) and Chief 51 (Pipero) to 13 Cranbury Station Rd in Cranbury Township. Cranbury Chief 48 arrived to find a large cape code with heavy fire showing from bravo side. The fire occurred in a non-hydrant area resulting in the activation of Middlesex County Fire Bureau’s Tanker Task Force. Engine 51, Jamesburg, Spotswood, and Brookview Fire Companies were all called as support engines for the operations. The assignment went to 3 alarms before being placed under control. 

On December 22nd at 1019hrs, Station 51, 23, and 57 were dispatched on Box 51-20, to the rear of 36 Evergreen on a Structure Fire.  Deputy Chief 51 (S. Kivet) called in service and updated Police Headquarters that he has smoke showing from the distance.  D/C 51 arrived at 10 Romero Ct. and advised incoming units that he had a 1 story ranch with smoke showing from side Charlie.  1st due, Squad 51 (Capt. Costa) with a crew of 5 was instructed to pickup there own water supply in front of the house and go in service with a 2" CAFS line.  Chief 57 (Carbin) assisted the crew and was designated as operations.  1st due Truck, Ladder 51 (Perry Sr) with a crew of 6 and 2nd due Engine 23-5 (Lt. Fraler) arrived and were put to work.  The bulk of the fire was knocked quickly by initial crews.  Assisting the initial attack was Ladder 23-8 (Lt. Daley), Spotswood RIT Engine 74 (Lt. Adoviago), and Rescue 51 (D. Rodriguez).  Station 57, Plainsboro Ladder 49, and South Old Bridge Engine 322 covered township stations.

On a cold early December 21st night before midnight, Spotswood Fire Company was dispatched to Manhattan Ave for a reported smoke condition in a residence.  Upon arrival of Chief 76 (Nick Polosino) he advised dispatch that he had a 2 story single family dwelling with heavy smoke showing.  He requested his dispatch to fill out the 1st alarm for the working fire.  Station 51 was requested to scene with Ladder 51 and Rescue 51 along with East Brunswick Fire Dist 1 for a RIT.  1st due Engine 74 pulled a preconnect into the basement and knocked down all visible fire.  A second line was stretched by Engine 72 and 79 and stood by on division 1 to investigate vertical fire spread in the walls.   Ladder 51 (D/C Kivet) and Rescue 51 (A. Hayes) arrived and assisted Spotswood units on checking for extension.  After further investigation, the fire was placed under control and a good save by SFD was proven.