Since its’ beginnings a century ago, the West Long Branch Fire Department has evolved from a group of neighbors joining together to protect their community from the ravages of fire. Today the Fire Department remains an all-volunteer organization that not only provides fire protection but also is a first responder to natural and man-made events such as hazardous materials incidents, motor vehicle accidents and, since 9/11, to potential terrorist incidents.

The Fire Department’s evolving role brought with it dramatic changes to training, equipment and operations. From the time a member joins the Fire Department to the time a fire is finally extinguished much has changed.

Members once received minimal local training on the basics of putting out a fire. Today new members require in excess of 100 hours of training at the Monmouth County Fire Academy before being allowed to respond to calls and must perform a probationary period. Besides the initial training all members are subject to Federal and State mandated training such as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and annual refresher training on subjects including hazardous materials and blood-borne pathogens.

Fire alarm boxes once found around town in strategic locations and the telegraph system that sounded a fire horn have been replaced by a radio alerting system. The alerting system was activated from West Long Branch Police Headquarters until a recent change to a countywide system also used by several surrounding towns. Monmouth County Communications Center receives 9-1-1 calls and automatic fire alarms then dispatches the Fire Department by activating member’s radio pagers.

Members respond to calls on apparatus much different from horse-drawn wagons or open-cab engines. Fully enclosed cabs provide protection from the elements and in the event of an accident. Small soda-acid activated booster tanks and 500 gallon-per-minute (GPM) main pumps of the early motorized apparatus have given way to 500-gallon water tanks and pumps up to 2000 GPM capacity. Large diameter 5-inch hose capable of delivering larger volumes of water has replaced once standard 2-1/2 inch diameter hose. Hydraulic ladders and platforms extending up to 75 feet supplement hand ladders. Apparatus must comply with standards set by the National Fire Protection Association.

Familiar hand axes and pike poles used by fire fighters for generations are supplemented by a wide variety of specialized hand and power tools including forcible entry tools; gasoline powered circular, reciprocating and chain saws; and hydraulic spreaders and cutters. Thermal imaging cameras aid in locating trapped victims or hidden fire. Electronic monitors check for hazardous or flammable gases.

Gone are the traditional rubber hip boots, long rubber or canvas coats, wool mittens and leather helmets once stored on rails along the apparatus hose bed. Each member is issued a full set of individually fitted personal protective equipment, or PPE. The PPE includes short leather or rubber boots, a turnout coat and full-length pants of fire and heat retardant material, fire fighting gloves, a hood to protect the head and neck, and helmet with eye shield, all meeting stringent structural fire fighting standards.

Fire fighters operating in a hazardous situation must wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with a personal alert safety system (PASS) device. The SCBA enables fire fighters to operate in hostile, smoke filled environments for up to 30 minutes. A fire fighter can activate the PASS device to transmit an audible alarm in case of emergency or the device will automatically transmit an alarm if the fire fighter is immobilized.

Today Fire Department volunteers face challenges far different from those of a century ago. What once was a rural community of individual homes, small farms, and family businesses along with several estates and areas of open space is now an almost completely developed suburban town crossed by busy state highways and county roads. Individual homes have multiplied; some residential areas along highways have changed to commercial or professional use; farms, estates and open areas have largely given way to apartments, townhouses, motels, commercial and professional complexes, small strip malls and larger shopping centers. The Monmouth University campus comprises administrative and educational buildings, student center, dining hall, athletic center, and traditional multi-story residence halls and garden-style apartments housing approximately 1,500 students; the campus includes two spacious historic landmarks – Woodrow Wilson Hall and Gugg! enheim Memorial Library.

Development of the Borough and introduction of new devices such as smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms contribute to the increase in Fire Department responses to an average of about one per day, a significant increase over what it was not many years ago.  While Fire Department responses have increased, the number of volunteers has decreased slightly over the years. In order to recruit and retain members the Borough recently created a Length of Service Award Program, or LOSAP, to reward members for their service to the community. In addition the Fire Department is stepping up its campaign for new members and encourages interested residents to consider serving their community by joining the Department.

 

No history of the West Long Branch Fire Department would be complete without remembering Michael Thorne. Michael died in the line of duty on July 3, 1984, while operating at a fire in Woodrow Wilson Hall of Monmouth University. The annual Michael W. Thorne Scholarship Four-Mile Run/Walk and Michael Thorne Park honor his memory and service to his community.

 

BOROUGH CHEMICAL AND TRUCK COMPANY NO. 1

Borough Chemical and Truck Company No. 1 (Fire Company No. 1) celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1977 marking the event with a parade led off by the Shore Regional High School Band followed by over fifty Fire Companies and First Aid Squads. After the parade Pine Brook Community Fire Company prepared barbeque chicken and hot dogs at the West Long Branch Community Center where awards were presented to marching units and best appearing apparatus. Grand Marshal Russell K. Hagerman and the oldest active member, Ralph Huhn, Sr., received plaques commemorating the occasion.

To meet the need for additional space the Company in 1977 started construction of an addition to the existing building originally constructed in the 1950’s. The addition provided two more bays accommodating larger apparatus, a storage area, an office, and lounge area. Residents of the Borough came to the aid of the Company by donating $14,000 but this still left a mortgage of $50,000 to be paid off by the Company. 

In 1977 Company No. 1 operated a 1969 Mack CF 1000 gallon per minute (GPM) pumper, a 1977 International utility truck and a 6X6 brush truck. The Mack pumper was the first closed cab, diesel powered apparatus in the Borough. The International utility retained the body from a 1961 Chevrolet truck purchased by the Company with bingo proceeds and donated to the Borough; the Chevrolet chassis was damaged beyond repair in an accident while responding to a call. Fire Company members fabricated the brush truck on a 1945 6X6 military chassis donated by Electronics Associates, Inc. (EAI) mounting a 500 gallon water tank and 250 GPM pump; this vehicle enabled fire fighters to extinguish brush fires in large open areas (mainly the old Norwood Country Club property) without having to haul equipment long distances from a road by hand or risk damaging expensive front line apparatus.

Recognizing that a smaller, more maneuverable brush truck would better suit our needs the Company purchased a one-ton 4X4 Dodge; Company members modified the truck for fire service fabricating a water tank and mounting a pump. In January 1980 the Company dedicated this truck to the Fire Company No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary who assisted in the purchase of the vehicle. After this truck entered service the larger 6X6 truck went on to serve Manitou Park Fire Company in Ocean County pinelands.

Sometimes fire fighters are called upon to provide services unrelated to fighting fires. Such was the case in 1981 when the crew filming “Annie” at Monmouth College requested our assistance to wet down the roadway. Members were afforded the opportunity to observe filming of a major motion picture and some were lucky enough to be photographed with Carol Burnett.

October 1983 occasioned a ceremony to burn the mortgage for the firehouse addition. The 20-year mortgage was paid off in just over five years thanks to the members’ dedication and proceeds from bingo. Bingo continued until 1987 when the Company decided it no longer was viable because of diminishing returns and extensive demands placed on Company members.

After several years of effort on the part of a Company truck committee to obtain an aerial ladder capability the Borough Council acquired a 1954 American LaFrance 75 foot ladder truck that previously served Unexcelled Fire Company in Neptune. It remained in service until 1986 when an inspection revealed cracks in the aerial ladder that were deemed uneconomical to repair.

During much of the 1980’s Fire Company No. 1 also housed two ex-New Jersey Natural Gas Company vans; one van supported Fire Police operations and the other contained a bottled air cascade system to refill individual fire fighter self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles at the fire scene.

In 1990 the Borough Council approved the purchase of a new Mack/Baker 75-foot Aerialscope tower-ladder; this truck was one of the last single rear axle Aerialscopes produced. The Company hosted a very well attended traditional “wetdown “ in 1991 to formally dedicate the tower-ladder.

As the Mack 1000 GPM pumper was approaching 30 years of service, did not meet current safety requirements and lacked operational features of modern apparatus the Company formed a truck committee. After a competitive bidding process the Borough selected Luverne Fire Apparatus to deliver a 1250 GPM pumper on a commercial Freightliner chassis; this pumper was placed in service as the first run pumper in 1998 and the Mack pumper was placed in a second run and reserve unit role.

Borough Chemical & Truck Company No. 1 celebrated 100 years of service to the community on March 9, 2002, with a Centennial Dinner Dance at Branches.

 Early in 2004 the 1977 International utility truck was retired from active service and repurchased from the Borough by Fire Company No. 1 for $1.00. The truck served the Borough for over 40 years and probably is best known for providing fire truck rides at the West Long Branch Community Center Fair. Fire Company No. 1 donated the truck to the Lower Lake Greenwood Fire Department of Ninety Six, South Carolina, also home to the 1954 American La France ladder truck that previously served Company No. 1.

A First Aid Squad/Fire Department agreement in 2004 assigned primary motor vehicle accident rescue and extrication responsibility to the Fire Department. This decision resulted in stationing the 1992 Ford F350 Rescue unit previously housed at the First Aid Squad at Fire Company No. 1. The Rescue unit is available to support other fire or emergency incidents if required.

In 2006 the Borough Council installed an emergency power generator at the Public Works building that will provide power to both Public Works and the firehouse. This greatly improves of the Fire Company’s ability to operate effectively during a power outage.