At 1:15am on July 29th, Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to Main Street in Spotswood for a working structure fire. Ladder-51 (Capt. F. Steinhauser) and Rescue-51 (2nd Lieutenant A. Zdrodowski) arrived minutes after dispatch and went immediately to work. Ladder-51 quickly deployed the aerial “stick” to the bravo side and began ventilation to the roof and punched out boarded up windows.  

Rescue-51 acted as the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) and jumped into action when two members went down with injuries while conducting ventilation. After ladder operator (G. Cure) nosed the ladder to the ground and had the RIC remove the firefighter and placed him onto the stretcher for rapid transport to the hospital by Spotswood EMS. The other firefighter was checked out at the scene and RMA’ed. After all bottles were filled and ladder was packed up- both units cleared the scene and returned to station by dawn.

All injured firefighter’s have made full recoveries and are back to duty.

Early on July 6th, all Monroe fire companies were dispatched to 133 Concordia Circle for a reported structure fire. Units arrived within minutes and reported heavy fire in the rear of the structure. All apparatus quickly dropped personnel off and went to work. After several hours of dealing with the humidity and a smoldering structure, the fire was finally extinguished. Damage to the house was confined to the rear of the building with all residents needing to be relocated until repairs are made.

One fire fighter was injured during the major operational period, was transported to Centre State Hospital before being released.

With many children around getting to know the Eagle River Day Camp facility, the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 was dispatched to a structure fire at the house on site.  Initial reports from command had a one story building with fire at the ridge line at the electrical connection from the street. Station 23 led off with a 1 ¾ hand line through the house and began flowing water. Moments later station 57 arrived to help provide ventilation and overhaul from the outside. Soon thereafter, Chief 51 (L. Pipero) arrived and assisted with staging and personnel; Capt. 51 (F. Steinhauser) arrived on location to provide assistance to the crews inside. Two crews hard at work with suppression and overhaul, Engine 51-3 (2nd Lieutenant A. Zdrodowski), with a full crew, arrived on location and went right to work pulling a second line to the interior as a back-up line and relieved crews on the exterior for overhaul.  Power to the structure was turned off and PSE&G arrived to secure a more permanent solution. Monroe EMS provided medical assistance at rehab for all of the districts responders. Whether heat or humidity, all Monroe’s Fire Districts did a great job and worked well to mitigate the situation.

On an early Saturday morning, June 5th, Station 51 was dispatched to a structure fire at 423 Hoffman Station Road. Station 23-A arrived on location within minutes and reported a working basement fire. Engine 51-3 (Lt. Hayes) and Rescue 51-4 (2nd Lt. Zdrodowski) called in service at the same time and arrived on location to perform positive pressure ventilation and overhaul. Captain 51 (F. Steinhauser) responded directly to the scene to assist the initial units. With a quick knockdown by Station 23-A, damage was confined to the basement. All units were cleared within three hours and returned to quarters.

With heavy rains pounding Monroe Township on a hot Memorial Day, Station 51 was dispatched to a possible structure fire at 3 Long Cove Road located in the Regency.  Squad 51-2 (Capt. F. Steinhauser) arrived first due, assumed command, forced the door, and reported a working fire in the attic. Stations 23-A and B arrived minutes later with Lt. Linke receiving the transfer of command. Squad 51 had stretched a 2” pre-connect and quickly extinguished the fire. Members from Engine 51-3 (2nd Lt. Zdrodowski) and Engine 23-7 checked for extension and conducted overhaul. Despite the pouring rain throughout the entire call, all units were back in station just under two hours.

On May 27th after a quick soaking of thunderstorms that crossed the area, Station 51 was dispatched to 41 Lakehurst Way, in the Encore, for a possible structure fire . Initial size-up reported by the Incident Commander had fire showing along the ridge line. Engine 23-7 quickly put one line in operation extinguishing the majority of the fire in the attic. Within minutes Engine 51-3 (Capt. F. Steinhauser), Squad 51-2 (2nd Lt. A. Zdrodowski), and Rescue 51-4 (A/O A. Perez) arrived on location with Tower 57 right behind them. The Incident Commander, Lt. Daley, immediately put the units to work with Tower 57 going to the roof, Engine 51-3 going inside to assist with salvage and overhaul, while Squad 51-2 acting as the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC). In just under a few hours all units cleared up without further incident and went immediately to another call for an electrical fire which yielded no fire.

On January 31, 2010 the Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Co. was dispatched to 10 Toby Terrace for smoke coming from the ceiling. Chief Lonnie Pipero and Lt. Steinhauser signed in service immediately and upon arrival reported a two story single family with nothing showing. Lt. Steinhauser went inside and advised that smoke was filling up the living room from the wall adjacent to the fire place. Engine 51-3(Lt. Hayes) arrived on location and pulled a dry 1 ¾ line to the front door. Engine 23-5 (Lt. Linke) arrived and assisted with Engine 51-3s crew. Ladder 51(A/O Dilieto) arrived and took the front of the building and reported to the "Charlie Delta" corner to open up because of smoke coming from behind the siding. Crews opened up and extinguished a small fire in the wall believed to be caused by the fire place.

Other Units on Location- Rescue 51-4 (2nd Lt. A. Zdrodowski), Ladder 23-8, Tower 57, Engine 71-4 (Spotswood).