2025 STARTS OFF BUSY FOR THE WESTWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT, 26 CALLS

Under the command of Fire Chief Brian Kronewitter, the Westwood Fire Department was called 26
times for emergency assistance during January 2025. Chief Kronewitter reports that none of the calls
turned out to be a serious fire in Westwood. The 26 emergency calls, three training drills and five
maintenance sessions required over 440 hours of volunteer time.
The Westwood Fire Department was called out of town seven times during the month. To assist the
Emerson Fire Department one time, the River Vale and Hillsdale fire departments three times each.
Two motor vehicle crashes occurred during January. Fire Department rescue crews used hydraulically
operated jaws to access the patients in these vehicles. Then assisted Emergency Medical Personnel at
the scene.
Automatic fire alarms were received six times in January. Although no fires existed at any of these
incidents, a full fire department response is required. Firefighters check the entire building to determine
if an actual fire exists. A variety of problems caused these automatic alarms: Contractors working in the
building caused one alarm activation. A restaurant fire suppression system unintentionally activated on
one occasion. Two alarm malfunctions required fire department response and steam from a cooking
operation caused alarms to activate on two occasions.
Citizens smelling natural gas was responsible for four fire department responses. At these calls fire
crews respond and check the area or building with meters. No gas was present at two of these calls. One
gas smell was caused by the occupant’s pilot light on a stove going out. One occasion gas was detected
near where gas company crews were already working in the area. The incidents were turned over to
Public Service Gas Company technicians for further investigation.
On two occasions the fire department responded for Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms. Carbon monoxide,
CO, is an odorless and colorless gas given off by improperly burning heating or cooking equipment. It can
be fatal at high levels. Again, at these CO calls a full fire department response is needed. Fire crews
check the entire building with meters. Low readings of CO was found at both of these incidents. Similar
to gas smells, the incidents are turned over to PSE&G gas technicians for further investigation.
On two incidents callers smelled smoke. One was normal cooking and the second was a belt in a washing
machine smoking. This problem was confined to the washer.
Two other responses were for boiler malfunctions at borough homes. These incidents were investigated
by fire crews to ensure the problem did not spread. Homeowners were advised to have repairs made by
qualified technicians.
This article was submitted by the Westwood Fire Department. Any Fire Department related questions
can be e-mailed to wwfdchief@westwoodnj.gov or by calling 201-664-0526. The fire prevention bureau
can be reached at wfpb191@usa.net or by calling 201-664-7100 ext 308.