September 2007

Apparatus
Fire Prevention
History
Member Register
Mission Statement
News
News Archives
Roll Call

Web Calendar

Member's Only

Mission_Statement

News
September 2007

Urban Search and Rescue training

	An intense five-day, 40-hour course conducted by New Jersey Task Force 1 saw five Millville Firefighters complete the track on "Urban Search and Rescue" (USAR) Operations.
NJ Task Force 1 USAR team is a branch of New Jersey State Police, Office of Emergency Management. The course was conducted at Lakehurst Naval Air Station that is their base. The class was comprised mostly of personnel from Cumberland County along with others from Cherry Hill and Atlantic City Fire Department. MFD members attending the were: John Garton, Doug Inferrera, Michael Lippincott, John Wettstein, Patrick Wettstein



Firefighter Mike Lippincott at a Breaching and Breaking (B&B) station with a K950 saw	Firefighters Lippincott and John Garton working with K950	Firefighter John Wettstein cutting concrete at B&B station with K950	Concrete being cut by FF John Garton with K950 while FF Lippincott wets saw blade


5 FF John Garton uses coring drill at B&B station	Firefighters Pat Wettstein and Doug Inferrera at Lifting & Moving station	Firefighters Pat Wettstein and Doug Inferrera at Lifting & Moving station using mechanical advantage to move 2,500 pounds	FF Lippincott starts K950

Pictures by John Carr *Information provided by Career Firefighter Mike Lippincott*

Millville Deputy Chief Hollingshead laid to rest with full honors

John C. Hollingshead, Sr., Deputy Chief of the Millville Fire Department received a full firefighter’s funeral today in his home city. Hollingshead passed away after a brief illness early Friday morning, on July 20, 2007, with his wife Molly by his side.

Department traditions were carried out in honor of Deputy Chief Hollingshead; Millville's fire station was draped in mourning, the flag was lowered to half-staff, and members turned out in full dress uniforms, with badges draped. MFD Honor Guard stood a casket vigil throughout the nearly three-hour long viewing. They also acted as pallbearers.

An antique American LaFrance pumper, known by the company as “Phoebe”, was used as a hearse, and carried the deputy chief's flag-draped coffin. The pumper stopped in front of the fire station as an original fire bell was struck 15 times, in honor of Hollingshead's 15 years of faithful service. A huge flag was hung from two aerial ladder trucks, forming an arch to the entrance of the cemetery.

An invocation was given at graveside, and taps was blown. Later, “Amazing Grace” was played by a lone bagpiper standing off from the crowd as a sign of deep respect. Chief Kurt Hess who earlier had given a heartfelt eulogy for his good friend, received the folded American flag from the Honor Guard, which he in turn presented to John’s grieving widow, Molly.

Deputy Chief Hollingshead served the Millville Fire Department for more than 15 years. In 1988, he was awarded the Fire Department Medal of Honor for Courage for rescuing an infant girl from a fire at Delsea Gardens. He was named Cumberland County Firefighter of the Year in 1989 for the rescue. He was also elected to serve the Millville City Commission three times, serving as Director of Public Safety and Public Works.

Hollingshead may be gone from this earth but his family and friends say he will always be loved and remembered


Flag draped casket exits the funeral home	Casket is placed on 'Phoebe'	Stopping in front of the fire station while the bell is tolls	American flag hangs between two aerial ladders at the entrance of Mt. Pleasant cemetery


Bag piper plays Amazing Grace	Family grieves	Honor Guard folds the American flag	Chief Hess presents Molly with the flag

Pictures by Company Photographer Dale Wettstein This article was also published on 1st Responder Broadcast Network www.1rbn.com/webpages/news/Displaynews.aspx?jumpTo=true&id=5c327a27-89d1-4000-8af7-7a2904d8a733

Millville FD moves into satellite station


By JOHN CARR Senior Correspondent

MILLVILLE, NJ – Not since the mid-fifties has the Millville Fire Department operated out of 2 stations but that’s exactly what will occur beginning September 28, 2007. At 1800 hours, an engine from the satellite station, located in the Millville Rescue Squad building on Cedar St., will respond in conjunction with apparatus from the main station.

Millville, a combination department, consists of a career chief, 12 career firefighters (3 platoons of 4) and 60 volunteers who protect a population of approximately 27,000 living in the 44.5 square mile city. Eight volunteers have been assigned to the satellite station and are those who live in or near the area. The career firefighters, operating out of the main station, will continue to respond with the first engine to any area in the city.

Up until 1957, when the current fire station at Buck and Oak Sts. was occupied, the fire department operated out of a main station at Second and Sassafras Sts. and kept several brush trucks at the old Church St. station. With ample room in the new station for all apparatus, the Church St. station was no longer needed.

According to Chief Kurt Hess, a study was done in the 80’s which recommended additional stations be constructed. Financing has always been the problem and the stations were never built.

The city entered into an agreement with the Millville Rescue Squad to provide space in its large building, which has room for 60 vehicles, for the sum of $9,000 per year. Chief Hess sees this as a temporary fix until such time an additional fire station can be constructed.

There is tremendous growth in the southwest part of the city, which also includes the municipal airport. The construction of a motor-sports park is also underway as are several new housing projects. Increased traffic congestion slows the response of volunteers to the main station. By placing an engine closer to this area, Chief Hess hopes to decrease response time and provide better protection.

Pictures by John Carr