Early in the afternoon of Monday April 20th, Ranger 28 was requested into Hopewell Township, Mercer County, to assist with an ongoing land and water search for a missing person.  Brush/Ranger 28, Van 28 and Car 282 responded along with other Somerset County resources from Flagtown Fire (Station36) and Rocky Hill FAS (53 Rescue).  The Somerset County crews were placed in staging and formed a Task Force of off road rescue vehicles.  Crews stood by to provide RIC type resources for the crews working in the field.  All Somerset County resources were released by approximately 5:30pm and returned to service.  On a side note, the lost person was located by the Mercer County Officials later that evening.

On Monday April 13th, Franklin Police requested Ranger 28 onto the D&R Canal Tow Path to assist EMS with transporting a victim of a serious medical emergency.  Crews from Millstone Valley placed Ranger 28 into service south on the tow path from Amwell Road along with Brush 28 heading to the Blackwells Mills Road entrance for additional manpower.  Crews arrived and provided assistance to Franklin Police, BLS and ALS in treating the victim.  Our thoughts and sympathy to the family of the victim.

Additional information can be found in this link https://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2015/04/man_dies_while_exercising_on_blackwells_mills_trai.html#incart_river

On the evening of Sunday April 5th, Millstone Valley was dispatched at the request of Franklin PD ESU to the Colonial Park Leash Free Dog Park to assist with tools to remove a dog whose paw was confined to the seat track of a car.  Air 28 responded with a crew of four along with both Chiefs and found a dog with his paw had slid into the rear seat track of a SUV type vehicle.  The owners and ESU officer had tried several techniques to remove the paw, however, it was a bit wider than the opening of the track.  The crew utilizing the manual pump Holmatro tool was able to provide enough spread of the track to where the dog could remove his paw.  The crew then helped the owner check the dog for injuries which were minimal as the dog was interested in thanking those who helped him by going to each member and giving them “kisses”.  The dog owner and the large crowd who had gathered as the nice weather on that Sunday made the dog park a popular attraction thanked all who came to the rescue.

At approximately 4pm on Sunday, September 28th, Ranger 28 was requested to locate and transport to a pediatric fall victim from a bicycle inside of the Six  Mile Run preserve.  Brush 28, Ranger 28 and Car 28 (Capt. Werensly) responded to the parking lot on Jacques Lane to enter the trails and locate the injured child and his father who were in contact with Franklin Police via cell phone.  Based off the description provided it was determined that the Red trail in the preserve would bring the crews closest to the point where they were.  FTPD ESU had entered the trail prior to Ranger 28 and was able to locate the injured child and provide a clear way point as to their location approximately 150 yards off the trail.  Ranger 28 EMTs along with East Millstone FAS EMT onboard stabilized patient for transport and Ranger 28 transported to child to the awaiting BLS ambulance.

With the increase in the local interest in mountain biking and hiking in Six Mile Run; MVFD’s preparation and understanding of the trails and terrain is critical when emergencies occur.  The drilling that Millstone Valley does in the Six Mile Run Preserve pays off and is key to successful outcomes like today.

Around 9:15pm on September 22nd, Hillsborough Fire District was dispatched to a chimney fire on Beekman Lane.  Arriving Chiefs (Car 36 and Car 37) found fire coming from the chimney and upgraded the alarm to a full first alarm with RIC team.  Station 28 was dispatched for RIC and responded with Air 28, Car 28 and Car 282 and 8 personnel.  Hillsborough crews quickly mitigated the fire in the chimney and the heat condition in the attic.  Air 28 was available approximately 30 minutes after arrival once it was determined RIC services were not needed and air bottle refilling was not needed.  Good job by all on scene.

Just prior to 10:30pm on Tuesday evening, Station’s 28 and 44 were dispatched to a possible vehicle fire on Jacques Ln and Canal Rd.  Car 28 (Chief Stashek) arrived to find a vehicle in the road fully involved.  Squad 28 arrived and deployed the Front Bumper Foam Line and extinguished the fire.  Deputy 44 (Ubry) assumed operations with the crew from Engine 44-2 providing additional manpower.  Chief 44 (Cuddy)assisted Fire Police 44 with the road closure on South Middlebush Rd side, while Fire Police 28 closed the Canal Rd side.  Tanker 44 was also on scene as an additional water supply.

At 18:03 on Saturday, Ranger 28 was special requested to assist Kendall Park EMS with removing a patient with a leg injury from the wooded area  between Canal Rd & Mosher Rd.  EMS accessed the patient on foot who was in a creek bed approximately 300 yards into the woods.  Due to the recent flooding carrying the patient out of the woods would be difficult.  Ranger 28 accessed the victim who was already packaged by Kendall Park EMS and safely transported the victim out of the woods to a waiting ambulance.   All units cleared at 18:34 hours.

At approximately 8:30am on Saturday, May 3rd, Millstone Valley (Station 28) and Elizabeth Avenue (Station 26) were dispatched for reported vehicle fire at Mettlers Road and Amwell Road.  After C282 marked up responding, FTPD advised that the car was fully involved.  D/C McDonnell (Car 282) arrived and established Amwell command.  Squad 28 arrived and stretched the front bumper 1.75″ line and began extinguishment.  Engine 261 arrived and was assigned to assist Squad 28 crew with opening up the engine and passenger compartments.  Crews worked together to complete extinguishment and overhaul.  All units cleared by 9:05am and scene turned over to FTPD to await wrecker and direct the heavy traffic in area due to Amwell being the only crossing of the Millstone River open after recent flooding.

At 17:24 hours on Tuesday April 15th, District #1 responded to Madison Suites Hotel for a fully involved car fire. Car 442 arrives first establishing command. Engine 261 and Squad 28 arrived simultaneously, and deployed a front bumper foam line from Engine 261. No damage to any other vehicles or the building occurred, all units cleared in approximately 25 minutes.

On Tuesday March 18th at 16:00, District #1 was alerted to a motor vehicle fire at 1815 Amwell Rd.  Car 28 (Chief Stashek) arrived first to find a car in the driveway well involved, some small brush fires spreading, and a boat extremely close to the fire.  Car 56 (Chief Panchery) arrived and was given command while Chief Stashek took operations.

Upon Engine 44-2’s arrival, the members of FM8 (Fire Prevention) pulled an 1 3/4″ bumper line and immediately stopped the fire from involving the boat.  With the assistance of Engine 26-1’s crew, the remaining fire in the car and the small brush fires were extinguished.

Westbound traffic on Amwell Rd was diverted for approximately 30 minutes by Fire Police 44 while the crews operated.

UNITS ON SCENE: Engine 26-1, Car 28, Car 44, Engine 44-2, Fire Police 44, Car 56, FM8 C/D/F/G, FTPD