On Sunday 3/30/25 just before 12:00pm Station 28 was dispatched to the area of Hilltop Lane and South middlebush to assist Franklin Township PD with locating a missing plane. Chief 28, Air 28, Utility 28 with the drones, Brush 28 with rangers #1 and #2 and fire police 28 responded with a total of 9 members. Chief 28 arrived, established command, and directed the Drone Team to come down Hilltop Lane to April Lane and set up at the end of the road. Station 44 Middlebush Volunteer Fire Dept was also requested for their Argo to assist.
Two drones were in the air soon after arrival and began a grid search of the surrounding area to try and locate the Plane. As time passed more information from the FAA was given to Franklin PD which was relayed to us and narrowed the area to search until finally at 1:22 pm the crash site was located. Sadly the Pilot of the Aircraft did not survive. The members of Station 28 give their sincere Condolences to the Family and Friends on this tragic loss.
On 3/8/25 at 9:30 in the morning Station 28 was dispatched for our Drone Response Team into Bedminster Township to assist PD with a missing person. Utility 28 and Air 28 made the response with 7 members. Once getting on scene and meeting with Bedminster PD we were given a last known area of where the person may have went and put 2 Drones in the air to begin searching.
We spent a few hours assisting in the search checking numerous wooded areas before it was determined that our services would no longer be needed. We returned to our District just after 12:00pm. We are happy to say that the missing person was found safe and sound earlier this week. We are always happy to assist our neighboring towns in any way that we can. #millstonevalley#droneresponseteam... See MoreSee Less
We would like to take a moment to send our deepest condolences to our brothers and sisters at Bernardsville Fire Company #1 for the loss of active member Mark Tamke. We are deeply sorry for your loss, may he rest in peace.The Bernardsville Fire Company #1 and First Aid Squad is deeply saddened to announce the passing of active member Mark Tamke.
Mark was a member for over 15 years. He joined the department in 2008 and served as: Brush Truck Driver: 2010-2012 and 2014-2015 Engine 104 Driver: 2016, 2025 Trustee: 2019-2024 Vice President 2025
Mark served on numerous other committees including being the head trustee, chair of fundraising and playing Santa Claus during our annual Santa Run. Mark’s commitment to the department was unwavering and he was incredibly proud to represent his hometown. The legacy of his contributions to the department will be valued for many years to come.
Our deepest condolences to his wife Laura, children Farrell, Connor, Anna, and Mark, as well as his family and friends. May he rest in eternal peace. ... See MoreSee Less
Here’s a few calls recently that our members responded too!
Early this morning around 6:30 am Franklin District 1 was dispatched to an address on Davidson Ave for a fire alarm, on the arrival of Engine 26-1 @eavfc26 they advised heavy smoke was coming from the front of the building with workers saying a dust collector was on fire inside, and quickly upgraded the assignment to a first alarm. Squad 28 responded with 3 and arrived 3rd due behind Engine 56-1 @svfrc1 , thankfully with swift actions from 26 and 56s crew the fire was quickly knocked down with just heavy smoke remaining in the building. Tanker 44 @middlebushfire arrived to supply engine 26-1 until the fire was confirmed out.
Members from SQ28 assisted in overhaul and began ventilation. Utility 28 with our Large Fan also responded to assist with ventilation due to the size of the building. We remained on scene with Franklin Township Fire Prevention until the smoke was clear. At 8:30 am all 28 units were clear. As always thank you to our mutual aid companies for assistance on scene and covering the district.
On Friday 2/28/25 just before 11:00am Station 28 was dispatched to standby in quarters for a 2nd alarm structure fire in Bound Brook, shortly after that dispatch it was upgraded to a 3rd alarm and we were re directed to the scene. Deputy 28 and Squad 28 with 3 responded and remained on scene for a few hours before being reassigned to standby at Bound Brook station 3 with Ladder 61 @mtbethelfire. At 4:30 pm we were clear and returning to District 1.
On 2/25/25 District 1 was dispatched into Millstone Borough in the area of Amwell Rd and Somerset Courthouse Rd for a reported brush fire. Squad 28 and Ranger 28 were on scene shortly after dispatch and after a thorough invest of the area with Franklin Township Fire Prevention, it was determined there was no fire and it was a machine starting up for the day. Units cleared up soon after.
Also an update with the new Car 28! It will be getting lettered soon and off to receive lights shortly after that! We can’t wait to see it rolling the streets in the next month or 2! #MillstoneValley... See MoreSee Less
Another Favorite Event of ours is coming next month! Join us and the Easter Bunny April 19th at 12:00pm for the Egg Hunt! You get to meet the Firefighters from Millstone Valley and check out the Fire Trucks too! Everyone is welcome, we hope to see you then! #millstonevalley#annualegghunt#SpreadTheWord... See MoreSee Less
That special time of year is here! Stop down our Station Feb 12th from 2-7 pm or the 13th and 14th from 7-7 pm! We will have everything you need from roses to sweet snacks for that special someone! Limited supplies so be sure to get here early! Cash and card are accepted, See you soon! #LoveIsInTheAir#valentinesday#millstonevalley... See MoreSee Less
On 1/18/25 Millstone Valley held its Annual Installation Dinner at the Imperia Restaurant. This event is for new officers to be sworn in. It’s also a chance to recognize members and the department for achievements during the year 2024.
Chief Chris Ziobro started off with a recap of 2024 and played the Year In Review video that was put together by him and Engineer Kevin Lowry. Ladies Auxiliary President Karen Ziobro addressed the goals that were met in 2024 and how successful the events were. We hope to see the Ladies succeed further in 2025!
Our newly voted in officers had there badges pinned by their significant other/ family. Deputy Chief Ryan Hunt was pinned by his kids Carly and Joey. Captain Chris Ryan was pinned by his Wife Stacey. 2nd Lieutenant Kevin Danberry was pinned by his Fiancé Kelly, and 3rd Lieutenant Robert Hodossy was pinned by his Girlfriend Rachel. Congratulations to you all and have a safe 2025.
This years Firefighter Of The Year Award was issued to Engineer Jon Joo. Jon has been with the Department for about 3 and a half years and is in charge of our Drone program. It is his job to make sure our Drones and equipment are ready for the next call. Congratulations on this accomplishment!
Our Station finished the year 2024 with 870 calls for service which totals to 31,187 manhours. Within those 870 calls we had 7 Structure Fires in our District, 12 RIT calls, 19 Drone calls which consisted of 4,797 manhours, 3 requests for our Large Fan Trailer, and 2 water rescues. A special thank you to the loved ones of all our members. Without their support our Station simply wouldn’t succeed.
Our top 10 responders were recognized and awarded for their dedication to answering the call no matter what time it comes in. Our top ten for 2024 were-
Firefighter- Dj Coppola (300 calls) Chief- Chris Ziobro (252 calls) Engineer- Kevin Lowry (244 calls) Engineer- Freddy Ramirez (231 calls) 3rd Lieutenant- Robert Hodossy (196 calls) Firefighter- Connor Budd (181 calls) Deputy Chief- Ryan Hunt (178 calls) Firefighter- Greg Brandt (170 calls) Firefighter- Chris Goldberg (156 calls) 1st Lieutenant- Dan Delsignore (151 Calls)
Lastly, their was a special Award given to our top responding Junior Owen Tighe with 107 calls. He is one of 3 juniors at our department and has been with us for a year and a half now. Owen is a huge help around the firehouse and always lending a hand to those in need or simply volunteering to handle various tasks that need to get done. He attends all of our drills and continues to learn more as he preps for Fire School once he turns 18. Congratulations and thank you for your Commitment!
Thank you Darren from Flashover Entertainment DJ’s for doing an awesome job with the music! Also a shout out to Station 56 Somerset Fire & Rescue Co. No. 1 for covering our Weekand Duty Crew from 7-11 while our members enjoyed the evening with their friends and families. ... See MoreSee Less
As of 8:00 am this morning Nj is under a state of emergency due to the impending snow storm. If you don’t need to be on the roadways please stay at home so road crews and plow trucks can work to keep the roads clear. If you do need to go out please be safe and leave plenty of space between other vehicles. Also a reminder to keep your hydrants clear of snow! Help us help you!Good morning! One final tweak to the snow map before snow pushes into WNJ. Lowered the jackpot zone by one inch and we think zones D, E, and F are going to see the higher end of their ranges after a sooner-occurring changeover this afternoon. Keep in mind, this does not include any heavy meso bands that could form during peak snowfall later today. Not enough confidence to forecast such but always possible with a setup like this. We're seeing a colder overall system, especially for SENJ...meaning more snow/sleet less rain. However the above-freezing surface temps will still inhibit SENJ accumulations until the cold air crashes to the coast closer to sunset. Here is the snow map for reference. Good luck to all and be safe! JC ... See MoreSee Less
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the members of Station 28 continue to try and increase awareness for this important cause. Breast Cancer holds a special place in several of our members hearts as we have several survivors in our “family”.
During the month of October, our members will be wearing Pink firefighting hoods to show our support. This will be our 2nd year wearing the hoods, hopefully our visual appearance will raise the awareness for those that we encounter.
This year Fire Prevention Week is October 6 – 12 and the theme is Prevent Kitchen Fires. Station 28 will be holding our annual Open House on Saturday October 19th from 11am – 4pm. This event will focus on how to Prevent Kitchen Fires, but we will also have games and gifts for kids, food, and our members will be available to answer any other questions you may have.
Bring the entire family down for some fun and education, and don’t forget to visit our neighbors at the Canal Fest taking place on Market St.
Join us this Saturday at the Somerset County Fire Academy in Hillsborough, on Roycefield Rd, for a live demonstration of Residential Fire Sprinklers. The Somerset County Fire Marshals Association is presenting this live demonstration in an effort to bring awareness to everyone about the major impact that Residential Fire Sprinklers can have on a home fire. With today’s materials burning hotter and faster, you need early water application to prevent complete devastation from a fire, Residential Fire Sprinklers do just that.
Air 28 was placed in service in June 2013 as a Special Services unit to provide Air, Light, and Rehab services along with being Station 28’s primary RIC vehicle. The photograph below shows the inventory stored in the HDR box area and roof top. Additional items requiring a controlled climate or easy access to the crew cab area are stored inside of the cab and walk-in area of the box. The members of the truck committee spent many hours designing a truck that stores a vast inventory of equipment in an effective way that makes it easy for members to retrieve. Photos of the compartments and inventory list will be posted shortly.
Shortly after 3pm on Saturday 9/14, Ranger 28 was requested to assist Station 36 with multiple brush fires in a difficult to access area of Dukes Farm. Ranger 28 and Ranger 36 were able to access the fires and utilized their on board foam tanks to extinguish them without incident.
12 years ago the most unimaginable terroristic acts occurred on our country. With the cause yet not fully known, hundreds of emergency workers responded to the Twin Towers to begin to mitigate the problem. Why? Because that is what we do. We go where there is a need, without question, without prejudice, without hesitation.
Never Forget is not just another slogan that the fire service created, it’s a mindset. It goes far beyond the fire service. We as Americans, regardless of race, creed, religion, must never forget that those who perished that day were not victims of some accident, they were MURDERED. We must remember them and honor their legacies.
For the emergency service personnel that gave their lives, we will never forget the 343 that died that day. But Never Forget can’t stop at those 343; since the attacks over 1,000 people have developed a WTC cancer. We must not forget that these men and woman gave selfishly of themselves to help those in need, who now have health issues.
Please take today to remember that firefighters give whatever is needed, to whoever is needing, whenever they can. We don’t do it for the glory, we don’t do it for the money, we do it for the community’s we serve.
NEVER FORGET 343 and ALL Emergency Service Personnel
On Sunday September 8th, Millstone Valley continued with its commitment to maintain a skilled RIC team. An early departure traveling to the Morris County Fire Academy for a bit of a change in training venues. Members reviewed advanced search techniques and executed several exercises to locate and remove lost or trapped firefighters.
Crews completed Denver and Pittsburgh evolutions along with an advanced search using the mask confidence course on the training grounds. Thanks to the instructors at Morris for providing a challenging training regimen today.
On Sunday morning, September 8th, Station 28 was requested to standby at Station 27, East Franklin, while they operated at a 2nd alarm structure fire. Squad 28 responded on the assignment and remained at Station 27 while crews operated for about an hour and a half.
On Labor Day, Station 28 assisted South Plainfield Emergency Services during their annual Labor Day Fireworks. Air 28 was requested as in years past and this year Ranger 28 was added to the request.
Ranger 28 was staffed with 2 personnel including an EMT, providing rapid response services to the area surrounding Spring Lake Park. Air 28 staffed with 4 personnel and provided lighting for public safety.
This past week, Station 28 sent several members to 4 days of training at Fire Rescue International. 6 of our junior officers and senior firefighters completed the Company Officer Leadership 1 education track, while both Chiefs completed the Chief Officer Leadership 1 track.
Our dedicated members attended more than 20 hours of training to further their education and continuously improve on the level of service we provide to our community.
As Chief of the Department, I would like to thank these individuals for their dedication.