Archive News Articles

January 1st- At 15:13hrs, Engine 614 was dispatched for a reported vehicle fire at 39 Dipilla Dr. 6101 and Engine 614 with five members, responded. Communications notified 6101 and 614 that police were on scene with a engine compartment fire. Engine 614 arrived on scene and went in service with 1 3/4 line and made a quick knock of the fire and was available within 30 minutes. FM 5 was requested to scene for investigation.

By Gloucester County Times

December 13, 2009, 11:00AM

DEPTFORD TWP. — Thirty-one firefighters will graduate from the Gloucester County Fire Academy class on the campus of Gloucester County College on Thursday, December 17, at 6 p.m.

Director of the Fire Academy Robert V. Hill Sr. will welcome the fall 2009 graduating class of recruit and firefighters, their families and friends to the GCC Physical Education Center to celebrate the completion of six months of fire training.

The graduates represent 17 volunteer and combination fire service agencies serving Gloucester County.

GCC Provost and Vice President of Academic Services John Henzy will present the opening remarks with the keynote address given by Everett John Hoffman, Chief of the Washington Township Fire District.

The following graduates have successfully completed the New Jersey Firefighter 1 program and will be recognized for their accomplishments:

Edward Barber III (Woolwich Fire Dept.), Ethan Cannon (Mantua Fire Dept.), Nickalis Collins (Star Cross Fire Dept.), Jason Cooper (Thorofare Fire Dept.), James Craig (Westville Fire Dept.), Jonathan Craig (Westville Fire Dept.), Joseph Craig(Westville Fire Dept.), Andrew Crew (Mantua Fire Dept.), Nicholas DeCarlo (Wenonah Fire Dept.), Nicholas Gismondi (National Park Fire Dept.), Robert Graham (Washington Twp. Fire Dept.), Donald Hummel (Pitman Fire Patrol), William Jackson Jr. (Deptford Fire Dept.), Mark Jenkins (Thorofare Fire Co.), Stephanie Kavalchick (Star Cross Fire Dept.), Chris Koller (National Park Fire Dept.), Al Mackler (Washington Twp. Fire Dept.), James McClosky (Mantua Fire Dept.), David Mirkin (Franklinville Fire Dept.), Shane Mitchell Jr. (Gibbstown Fire Dept.), Mark Mossop (Mantua Fire Dept.), Juan Pagan(Woodbury Fire Dept.), Justin Partridge (Thorofare Fire Dept.), Duane Paul Pheasant (Woodbury Heights Fire Dept.), Brian Planeta (Cecil Fire Dept.), Kenneth Ridgell Jr. (Harrisonville Fire Dept.), Edward Rodig (Woodbury Fire Dept.), Jeffrey Shinn (Wenonah Fire Dept.), Martin Shurr Jr. (Woolwich Fire Dept.), Michael Vaneman (Pitman Fire Patrol) and Sam Wilson(Cecil Fire Dept.).

The Gloucester County Fire Academy offers high quality training in tactics, techniques, and safety with classroom instruction provided in one of four spacious classrooms equipped with the latest in audio and visual instructional aides.

A modern burn building, full-sized aircraft trainer and realistic ranch-style smokehouse dwelling provides trainees with practical preparation. Additional live fire training is also offered through one of many field props.

The Gloucester County Fire Academy prides itself on offering a full range of mandatory training courses as well as a large selection of specialty training programs. All programs are taught by State Certified instructors and when necessary staff with special certifications in such areas as EMS, Specialized Rescue, and Industrial Fire Brigade training.

GCC’s 250-acre campus is located on Tanyard Road in Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.

The Thorofare Fire Company would like to congratulate all members of the class especially

FF Mark Jenkins, FF Justin Partridge, FF Jason Cooper

on the completion of the Firefighter I Course. Best of luck to all graduates!!!

Two nights of Extrication Drills

On the Nights of May 12th and 26th, Thorofare Fire Company and Paulsboro Fire Dept., drilled together and practiced with both companies, techniques of vehicle extrication. The nights got a chance for everyone to try out different equipment from the local mutual aide companies, and the techniques of removing a vehicle from a patient. Paulsboro also got a chance to try out some brand new equipment, recently purchased for their rescue, from a brand new air bag system. On May 12, both companies work together to learn the basics of vehicle stabilization. On the 26th, crews proceeded to get a little more in depth, with the proper techniques of removing doors, roofs, and full side removals. Continuing to incorporate the lessons learned from the first night of training.

Photos copyright of TVFC

"Field of Dreams"- Brush Fire April 10- At 16:35hrs, Engine 6-1 was dispatched for a reported Brush fire in the area of "The Field Of Dreams". 6102 and Engine 612 with five members, responded. Communications notified 6102 and 612 that it was not brush on fire, but several couches and storage racks set by juveniles, as reported by local police. Due to the large column in the area, Engine 614 also responded and staged. The crew from 612 extinguished the fire and was available within 15 minutes. FM 6 was requested to scene, the fire is still under investigation.