Liberty Corner Fire Company

Liberty Corner obtains grant to equip its new engine with thermal imaging camera September 29, 2009

It has quickly become one of the most important pieces of equipment any fire department can have, and now Liberty Corner firefighters will be receiving one of the most modern, high-tech versions.

Insurance agency Lane McVicker is partnering with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company to award the Liberty Corner Fire Company a $9,038 grant for a new thermal imaging camera, to be placed on its new Pierce Velocity Pumper.

Thermal imagers use updated technology to enable firefighters to "see" through smoke and darkness to quickly locate anyone trapped in a building during a fire. The cameras can also play a major role in reducing property damage. With one in hand, firefighters can often locate hot spots inside walls and extinguish them before they spread.

"This camera isn’t a luxury item it’s an essential tool that helps save lives," said Liberty Corner Fire Chief Robert Pierson. "This camera will allow our firefighters to be much more effective and efficient during search and rescue operations."

The grant package will be presented to the Liberty Corner Fire Company at a Bernards Township Committee meeting on September 29, 2009 8:00 p.m., at the Bernards Township Municipal Building on Collyer Lane. Chief Pierson will discuss and demonstrate usage of a thermal imager.

"We realize the negative effect the downturn in the economy is having across the country and, in particular, within the fire service," said Gilbert Lai of Lane McVicker. "Taking that into account, along with the fact I’m a Bernards Township resident, I’m glad to give back to the Liberty Corner Fire Company in a meaningful way."

Structure Fire at 14 Hampton Court August 30, 2009

Liberty Corner Fire Company responded to 14 Hampton Court in the Spring Ridge development at approximately 6:50P.M. on Sunday, August 30th for a fire in an attached garage. Upon arrival Incident Commander Assistant Chief Peter Aprahamian reported a working fire in the garage with all occupants of the residence outside and accounted for. The fire was extending to the second floor of the residence above the garage area and had extended to a car parked in the driveway.

Arriving moments after the Assistant Chief, Engine 4 was faced with heavy fire. The crew established a water supply with a hydrant conveniently located in front of the fire building. A 2 1/2" hoseline was immediately stretched and water was quickly put on the fire, knocking down the heaviest visible flames. Engine 2 and Rescue 1 arrived minutes after Engine 4 to supply additional firefighting crews. The crews from Liberty Corner Fire staged an aggressive interior attack with two 1 3/4" to keep the fire out of the residence while crews provided support for the exterior operations and to protect the exposures on the sides of the fire building.

While the residence suffered smoke and water damage, fire damage was limited to the garage and an area on the second floor above the garage. The vehicle in the driveway suffered heavy fire damage after fire extended into the engine compartment from the engulfed structure.

Assisting Liberty Corner Fire Company on the scene were EMTs from the Liberty Corner First Aid Squad, a FAST team from the Lyons VA Medical Center Fire Department and an Engine Company from the Mt. Bethel Fire Company from Warren Township.

FAST Response to 165 Mt. Airy Rd. July 12, 2009

Liberty Corner Fire Company's FAST (Firefighter Assistance and Search Team) was summoned to assist Basking Ridge Fire Company at approximately 1:20 a.m. on the morning of July 12.

Fire was in a crawl space in the basement of a single story ranch style home at 165 Mt. Airy Road. Also responding were Bernardsville Fire Company and Lyons VA Medical Center Fire Department. The fire was quickly brought under control.

Structure Fire at 17 Long Rd. June 29, 2009

Liberty Corner Fire Company responded to 17 Long Rd. early on the morning of Monday, June 29 for a fire in an attached garage. The fire was reported by the homeowner at approximately 1:20 a.m. The Bernards Township Police arrived and reported a fire in the garage. Shortly thereafter, Assistant Chief Peter Aprahamian arrived and reported a working fire with all occupants of the residence outside and accounted for.

Arriving moments after Chief Robert Pierson, Engine 2 was faced with heavy fire. Two hoselines were immediately stretched and water was quickly put on the fire. Engine 4 arrived minutes later and layed a five-inch supply line from the closest fire hydrant near the intersection of Long Rd. and Mountain Rd. to the supply line Engine 2 had previously dropped at the entrance of the driveway. Once a water supply from the hydrant was established, a total of five hoselines were stretched and in operation from Engine 2 allowing for an aggressive interior attack in addition to exterior operations.

While the residence suffered heavy smoke and water damage, fire damage was limited to the garage and approximately half of the second floor. Three vehicles in the garage were also a total loss.

Assisting Liberty Corner Fire Company on the scene were Liberty Corner First Aid Squad, Martinsville Fire Department, Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department, Lyons VA Medical Center Fire Department and Basking Ridge Fire Company & First Aid Squad. Long Hill Township fire companies provided stand-by coverage for the Lyons VA Medical Center Fire Department.

Liberty Corner Fire Company Wins First Place in Single Hose and Mystery Event at Annual Competition June 13, 2009

Liberty Corner Fire Company took home the First Place trophy for their performance in the single hose event of the Tri-County Firematics Association's annual competition. Hosted this year by Martinsville Fire Department, the competition consists of three events: single hose lay, double hose lay and ladder. The overall competition winner is the fire company with the lowest combined time for all three events. This year's overall winner was Bernardsville Fire Company. Bernardsville is the first company other than Green Village or Liberty Corner to win the overall trophy since 2003.

Also part of the annual competition is the Mystery Event. This year's Mystery Event, created by the host company Martinsville, was a truck pull. Each competing fire company fielded a team of no more than five members to pull a fire engine weighing approximately 45,000 pounds a distance of 250 feet. Each company's truck pull time was then multiplied by the team's total weight. Liberty Corner Fire Company took first place in the Mystery Event truck pull.

In addition to Martinsville (this year's host), Liberty Corner and Bernardsville, competing companies included Basking Ridge, Chatham Borough, Far Hills-Bedminster, Mendham, New Vernon and Peapack-Gladstone.

Fire Alarm Results in Medevac Transport May 30, 2009

Shortly before 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 30th, Liberty Corner Fire Company was dispatched to a fire alarm indicating water flow at Fellowship Village, 8000 Fellowship Rd. Shortly after the fire company was dispatched, Liberty Corner First Aid Squad was dispatched to an apartment in Fellowship Village for a burn victim. Upon arrival, water was flowing from a sprinkler head in the kitchen. It was determined that the patient had ignited her clothing and nearby combustibles while attempting to light a cigarette.

The patient sustained third degree burns to her upper torso, front and back, as well as burns to her chin and neck. EMS transported the patient to the Liberty Corner Firehouse where she was transferred to a NJ State Police Medevac helicopter for transport to Saint Barnabas Burn Center.

Traffic Crash With Rollover on Liberty Ridge Rd. April 8, 2009

Shortly after 7:00 pm on April 8th, Liberty Corner Fire Company and Liberty Corner First Aid Squad were called to a traffic crash at the intersection of Liberty Ridge Rd. and Honeyman Rd. After striking each other in the intersection, one vehicle rolled over, coming to rest on its roof on an adjacent sidewalk. The engine was still running upon the arrival of fire units. Firefighters secured the power to the vehicle and contained fluid leaking from both vehicles. Firefighters also assisted EMS with stabilization and packaging of one patient for transport to the hospital.

Photos

Mutual Aid to 11 Horseshoe Rd., Warren March 24, 2009

At approximately 3:00 pm, on March 24th, Liberty Corner Fire Company was called to assist Warren Township at a working fire in a residence at 11 Horsheshoe Rd. The fire is believed to have started on a rear porch where rags soaked with deck stain may have spontaneously combusted. Fire then ran up a wall, spreading to the roof, which partially collapsed. Although one resident was home at the time of the fire, there were no injuries reported.

The fire was brought under control in about 35 minutes. In addition to Warren and Liberty Corner Fire units, Martinsville Fire Department also responded.

FAST Response to Hotel Fire at 300 North Maple Ave. March 7, 2009

Liberty Corner Fire Company was called to assist Basking Ridge Fire company at a fire in a hotel at Dolce at around 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 7th. The fire was contained to a laundry room. Liberty Corner provided a Firefighter Assistance and Search team and assisted with ventilation and overhaul. Also responding was the Bernardsville Fire Company.

FAST Response to 180 Lake Rd. February 24, 2009

An early morning fire in the basement of a residence at 180 Lake Rd., Basking Ridge resulted in Basking Ridge Fire Company requesting Liberty Corner Fire Company's Firefighter Assistance and Search Team (FAST). Liberty Corner also provided assistance with ventilation and overhaul. Also responding to the fire were Bernardsville and Millington Fire Companies.

Garage Fire at 177 Smoke Rise Rd. January 24, 2009

At approximately 4:20am on Saturday, January 24, 2009, Liberty Corner Fire Company was dispatched for smoke in an attached garage at 177 Smoke Rise Rd. Upon the arrival of First Assistant Chief Pete Aprahamian, fire was determined to be in the garage with smoke filling the residence. Shortly thereafter, Chief Robert Pierson arrived, with Engine 2 arriving minutes later. An inch-and-three-quarter line was stretched through the front door to the interior garage door. Once the exterior garage door was opened, the fire was rapidly extinguished. Fire damage was confined to the area of origin within the garage with the rest of the home suffering minor smoke damage.

Alerted by properly functioning smoke detectors, a resident was able to call 9-1-1 and have his family exit the residence. Assisting Liberty Corner Fire Company on the scene was Liberty Corner First Aid Squad. Also assisting was Lyons VA Medical Center Fire Department who responded to a fire alarm in Liberty Corner's response area while Liberty Corner operated at the fire.

Busy Week For Liberty Corner FAST January 17, 2009

Liberty Corner Fire Company's FAST (Firefighter Assistance and Search Team) has been requested by neighboring fire companies three times in five days.

Shortly after noon on Tuesday, January 13, Liberty Corner's FAST was called to assist Basking Ridge Fire Company at a fire in a private residence at 284 South Maple Avenue. Fire was reported in a home undergoing remodeling and was quickly brought under control.

Just after midnight on the morning of Friday, January 16, Liberty Corner was called to provide FAST services for a fire in a residence at 56 Northfield Road in the Millington section of Long Hill Township. Fire was in the rear of a single story bungalow. Fire was controlled by first arriving companies with the residence sustaining heavy fire and smoke damage.Three cats perished in the fire. In addition to FAST, Liberty Corner provided some overhaul assistance. Temperatures at the time of the fire were zero to five degrees above zero, Fahrenheit. In addition to the first due companies from Millington and Stirling, Liberty Corner Fire Company and the Lyons VA Fire Department also responded.

At 19:55 hours on the evening of Saturday, January 17, Liberty Corner's FAST was again requested by Basking Ridge Fire Company. Fire was in a single family residence at 9 Homeland Avenue. Assisting first due companies from Basking Ridge were Bernardsville Fire and EMS, Liberty Corner Fire Company, Millington and Stirling Fire Companies and The Lyons VA Fire Department.

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