Collingswood Fire Department
20 W. Collings Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108 856-854-1043
Fire Chief : John R. Amet Ext. 100
Captain : Keith Davis x105
Admin.Lieutenant : Robert Fox x102
Lieutenant : Steven Jack x323
Lieutenant : Edward Glaze x359
Firefighter/EMT : Eric Eichmann x314
Firefighter/EMT : William Day x309
Firefighter/EMT : Stephen Reustle x361
Firefighter/EMT : Geoffrey Joyce x362
Firefighter/EMT : Steven Polumbo x364
Firefighter/EMT : Theodore Aurig x366
Firefighter/EMT : John Fleming x367
Firefighter/EMT : Michael Prete x315
Firefighter/EMT : Kevin Ehret x311
Firefighter/EMT : Matthew Skowronek x363
Firefighter/EMT : Melanie Pierce x360
Secretary : Barbara Thomas x101
Secretary : Rose Wackerle x101
To report a fire or other emergency, dial 911. For a non-emergency, dial 856-854-1043 to contact the Fire Department and enter your desired extension. Dial "0" to get through to the duty firemen.
Mission Statement l Fire Safety Tips l Services l Career Department History Emergency Medical Services l Fire Prevention Activities l Prevention Demonstrations l Fire Station Tours l Collingswood Fire Company No. 1
Join A Professional Team l Additional Links l FAQ's l In Action | Forms and Downloads
Mission Statement
Providing courteous, prompt and efficient fire, rescue, emergency medical service and safety education to the citizens, visitors and merchants of Collingswood, through the use of modern equipment and methods, staffed by a team of dedicated career and volunteer professionals.
The Collingswood Fire Service is made up of two different organizations that work together to bring the residents and visitors to Collingswood, some of the best emergency service in the area. The Collingswood Fire Company No. 1 is an organization comprised of the volunteer Firefighters and Officers. The Collingswood Fire Department is made up of a career staff.
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Fire Safety Tips
1. Most fire fatalities occur in the middle of the night, usually while people are asleep.
2. Install a smoke detector on each level of your home and a smoke detector in every bedroom.
3. Do not disable a smoke detector when it sounds off.
4. Know what to do after a detector sounds off.
5. Plan a home escape route in the event of a fire.
6. Replace old detectors.
The average life of a detector is about 10 years. Older detectors become overly sensitive and create nuisance alarms or don't work at all. Smoke detectors can be purchased at your local hardware or home center store, and in many leading discount and department stores.
Smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month. The batteries should be replaced at least twice a year when you change your clocks. Smoke detectors provide early warning, increasing your chance for survival and allowing additional time for the fire department to save your property.
The Collingswood Fire Department offers many services, which includes assistance with installing smoke detectors and replacing batteries. Please call 854-1043 x0 for assistance.
Smoke detectors—they’re real protectors!
Collingswood Firefighters regularly
train to sharpen their skills
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Services
Many services are provided to the residents of Collingswood:
• 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week Fire and EMS Protection
• Free Home Safety Inspection
• Residential Pre-plans
• Free Smoke Detectors and Installation
• Tours of the Fire Station
• Fire and EMS Demonstrations
• Public Education about Fire Safety and Prevention
• Kindergarten through Grade 6 classroom visits in all Collingswood schools annually to teach the children about Fire Safety and Prevention
• The Fire Prevention Bureau conducts Housing and Fire Inspections in approximately 1,100 properties annually
• The Fire Department also conducts the Certificate of Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Compliance required for the sale of a property
• Nicky's Memorial Collingswood Cash Giveaway
• The Fire Department proudly keeps an ISO rating of 3, saving residents and business owners precious money in insurance premiums
More Specific Duties Provided:
• The morning of the High School Prom, a "Mock Crash" is held on the parking lot of the Scottish Rite Auditorium. Members of the Fire Department demonstrate to the Senior Class the consequences of drinking and driving. Student's acting as drunk drivers have to be cut out of crashed vehicles with the "Jaws of Life" to demonstrate the grave consequences of drinking and driving.
• Members conduct a puppet show for Kindergarten students to teach them how to "Stop, Drop and Roll," how to use "911" in an emergency and to not play with matches.
• Welcome Packets are delivered to new residents of Collingswood which include Residential Pre-plans, information about Home Safety Inspections, Free Smoke Detectors and other goodies.
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Career Department History
The Collingswood Fire Department was created in 1926 to supplement the volunteer firefighters. The department is comprised of 17 career firefighters. They include the ranks of Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Shift Officer and Firefighter/EMT. The members of the department are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The primary purpose of the career department is to give quick response to calls for service, but we also provide inspectors to inspect business and residential properties, maintain all fire and emergency medical service apparatus, maintain the building, and provide educational opportunities for the public. The staff responds immediately to all fire related calls and also for life-threatening emergency medical calls. All members are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians. The Collingswood Fire Department currently has an ISO rating of 3, one of only 54 in the State of New Jersey. We are one of the busiest fire departments in Camden County and provide many worthwhile services to the residents of Collingswood.
In June of 2002, the Collingswood Fire Department hired seven new Firefighter/EMT's. With the addition of these new members, the Fire Department now staffs the Emergency Medical Service division 24/7 with career personnel. This has decreased response times, provided consistent coverage, and provided two more Firefighters to respond to fire emergencies. New recruits are show with veteran members of the department, along with Mayor M. James Maley Jr.
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Emergency Medical Services
The Collingswood Fire Department provides Emergency Medical Services to the citizens of the Borough. In addition to providing care for Collingswood residents, mutual aid is provided to Audubon, Audubon Park, Camden City, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Oaklyn, Pennsauken, Westmont and any other town that requests our help.
If you have a question about a bill from receiving care from Collingswood EMS please contact DM Medical Billings Inc., 856-784-3715 x1601.
Ambulance 1648
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Fire Prevention Activities
The Collingswood Fire Department provides many fire prevention activities, from inspections of businesses and rental residential properties to education programs for the schools and industry.
Fire/Housing Inspections -
In an effort to facilitate a one-time inspection for residential rental properties, the fire department will perform both an annual housing and fire prevention inspection in one visit. The owner of the property has the responsibility to arrange for the fire inspector to enter the entire property. This inspection will require the completion of a form, that the fire department will mail to each property owner, and the remittance of a fee to cover the costs associated with the inspection program. Call 856-854-7447 x101 for more information.
Certificate of Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Compliance (CSDCMAC)
In accordance with New Jersey law, every building that has a residential component to it, must have a "CSDCMAC" before the sale of the property. The seller or his representative must place a smoke detector in every bedroom and one additional detector on each level of the home prior to the inspection. The Carbon Monoxide detector must be placed within 10 feet of the bedrooms. Please call the Inspection Bureau to set up an appointment or for guidance in placement of the detectors and receive the necessary paperwork. Call 856-854-7447 x 101 for more information.
Nicky's Memorial Pizza Giveaway -
As many Collingswood town residents may know, a tragic fire occurred in April of 2002 which ended in the loss of life of young Nicky Iezzi and his father Joe Iezzi, which started the beginning of the Nicky's Pizza Give Away. The Collingswood Fire Department in conjunction with the Collingswood Rotary Club sponsored the free pizzas. On Friday evenings the Collingswood Fire Department would go to a local participating pizza shop and make a pizza delivery to the home. If the resident had properly working smoke detectors in place, the home owner would receive their pizza free paid for by us.
The revised Nicky's Give Away will be in Collingswood Cash. The Collingswood Fire Department will be conducting block smoke detector inspections in your area. If your home has properly working smoke detectors in each bedroom and one on every level of your home, including the basement and attic, you can be eligible to win. "Collingswood Cash" is good for $25 worth of goods for any participating retail store in Collingswood. Homes having all required detectors in proper working order will be entered into a hat and a winner will be drawn.
Throughout each month, we will pick three blocks, knock on doors and test smoke detectors. There will be a winner picked from each block. Winners will be announced monthly in the Retrospect and on this site along with the following months streets to be inspected.
Smoke detectors should be mounted on the ceiling three feet inside all bedrooms, one on the ceiling within ten feet outside all bedrooms, a smoke detector on the ceiling of each level, including the basement and attic. Smoke detectors should be tested weekly and batteries replaced twice a year. Detectors should also be replaced every eight to ten years.
The block inspections will be conducted mostly on weekday evenings and on weekends. If you are not at home at the time of the inspection, a second attempt will be made to catch you at home. We are looking forward to meeting with you and talking about fire safety in your home, and please remember that only working "Smoke Detectors Save Lives".
Lastly, the residents are requested to fill out a Residential Pre-Plan form that will aid the responding units at an emergency.
Fire/Housing Inspections
In an effort to facilitate a one-time inspection for residential rental properties, the fire department will perform both an annual housing and fire prevention inspection in one visit. The owner of the property has the responsibility to arrange for the fire inspector to enter the entire property. This inspection will require the completion of a form, that the fire department will mail to each property owner, and the remittance of a fee to cover the costs associated with the inspection program. Call 856-854-7447 x100 for more information.
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Fire Prevention Demonstrations
The Fire Department provides hands-on demonstrations of fire safety programs in every class, kindergarten to sixth grade. Here you will see the Camden County Firemen's Assoc. House of Hazards being demonstrated at Zane North School.
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Fire Station Tours
Tours of the fire station are available by calling 856-854-1043 x0 and setting up a time and date.
A recent visitor shown all decked out
in his favorite clothing
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Collingswood Fire Company No. 1
On a winter’s evening in 1893, Collingswood Fire Company. No. 1 was brought into existence in the boiler room attached to the green house of Mr. John Escher. Up to this time the firefighters were designated the “Bucket Brigade” and had among its members the leading citizens of the what was then the “Village of Collingswood”. Their equipment was neither awe-inspiring or extensive, just one fire ax and one dozen buckets. “Whether from a lack of enthusiasm or the exceeding dearth of fires, this company fell into a tranquility from which it never recovered and, like the fire buckets, soon passed out of existence.
The year 1894 saw the town rapidly expand and the erection of several new buildings impressed upon the minds of the citizens the necessity of better fire protection. Among them were several firemen, who urged that the town take immediate steps to guard the lives and property of the people. Under the leadership of Mr. Escher, they met to achieve this goal. A public meeting was held in the spring of 1894, at the residence of Mr. F.A. Knight, and the real organization of Collingswood Fire Company No. 1 was affected.
Mr. Richard T. Collings was elected president and Mr. John Bailey, secretary. Nothing further was done until January 8, 1895, when steps were taken to call a meeting, for the purpose of incorporating the company. The meeting was held on March 5, 1985, and the company was incorporated in the mean time. Mr. Collings and Mr. Bailey having resigned, the honor of being the first president fell to the lot of Mr. Walter C. Boyce. Mr. F.M. North became secretary. Mr. F.A. Knight was elected vice president. The first steps toward securing a permanent home was taken this meeting, when Mr. Howard L. Merrick was requested to interview the Collingswood Water and Lighting Co. with a view of securing the Devoe property adjoining the stand pipe on Collings Avenue.
The first committee on by-laws, consisted of Messrs. W.J. Moss, Wm. Darnell and John Flynn presented their report at this meeting and were discharged. Messrs. Henry Bennett, John Escher and Eugene Darnell were appointed a committee on entertainment. The first contribution came through the generosity of Mr. L.F. Hurff, who donated the use of the hall (Tatem’s Hall).
The next meeting was held on March 12, 1895, and the articles of incorporation secured by Lawyer Wm. Darnell were ratified. The following were enrolled as charter members. H.L. Merrick, Henry, Frech, F.A. Knight, Henry R. Tatem, L.F. Hurff, FM North, Henry Bennett, Harry W. Smith, Harry S. Woods, Henry B. Willetts, Thomas Jack Jr, Joseph E. Scott, Theo. Austermuhl, John L. Flynn, H.L. North, Wm. J. Moss, Chas. Albertson, John C. Escher, James Jaggard Sr, Chalkley Parker SR, Walter C. Boyce, W.E. Macrea and Glen Devoe. They duly signed and ratified the certificate of incorporation, which was to run for a period of fifty years.
It being necessary according to law, to have some person, of an incorporate, to witness the signatures, Eugen Darnell was selected and thus deprived of the honor of being numbered among the incorporates, by unanimous consent, however, his name was added to this role.
(The Weekly Retrospect, 1957)
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Join A Professional Team
18 Or Over Members -
The fire company is always in search of new members to assist them in providing fire protection service to the residents of Collingswood. If you are the age of 18 and over and wish to receive more information on the requirements to become a member, please contact Chief Frank Saia.
Explorer Program -
The Collingswood Fire Company No. 1 sponsors Explorer Post 161 in a partnership with the Boy Scouts of America. This group of young men and women, between the ages of 14-17, are instructed on the process it takes to become a firefighter when they turn 18 years old. They also participate in training exercises that allows them to assist on the scene of fire calls. To learn more information about the Explorer Program call Firefighter Keith Davis at 856-854-7447 x308.
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Additional Links
American Red Cross www.redcross.org
National Fire Prevention Association www.nfpa.org
U.S Fire Administration For Kids www.usfa.fema.gov/kids
Camden County Public Health and Safety www.co.camden.nj.us/health
More links will be added soon.
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FAQ's
Q: How many people work in the Fire Department?
A: The Fire Department has 19 employees, 17 firefighters, and two secretaries.
Q: Why does a fire engine come when I only requested an ambulance?
A: All firefighters are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians with certification to use a defibrillator. Firefighters respond to all calls involving life-threatening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain. They will initiate treatment until the paramedics arrive. Also, life-threatening types of calls typically require the use of more personnel.
Q: Why do you send so many fire vehicles to a fire?
A: There are a number of specialized roles that firefighters undertake on a fire call, and it is necessary to have enough firefighters on the scene of an incident. Fire fighting is a very labor-intensive activity and the more personnel on the scene of an incident in the beginning help keep the incident under control. If you get behind because there are not enough firefighters on the call, it is more difficult to extinguish a fire quickly.
Q: Do you have bingo at the fire station?
A: No. The volunteer fire company relies on donations from the residents.
Q: How do I arrange a tour of the fire station?
A: Call the fire station at 856-854-1043 x 0 and request to schedule a tour.
Q: How can I get a copy of a fire incident report?
A: You can arrange to receive an incident report by coming to the firehouse and filling out an OPRA form. There are fees associated with copying of the reports.
Q: How can I get a smoke detector from the Fire Department? Will you change the batteries in my smoke detector?
A: You can call the Fire Department and depending on your situation we can help supply smoke detectors or help you install smoke detectors you have purchased. If you need assistance in changing a battery call the Fire Department at 856-854-1043 X0 and schedule an appointment and a firefighter will respond to your home.
Q: How many smoke detectors should I install?
A: The Collingswood Fire Department recommends a detector on each floor of the residence including the attic and basement at a minimum, also we recommend a detector in every bedroom. Detectors should not be placed within five (5) feet of a gas fueled appliance.
Q: What should you do if your carbon monoxide detector goes off?
A: Stay calm, call 911 and relocate to the exterior of the house. The best initial treatment for exposure to carbon monoxide is fresh air.
A: How do I register for a CPR class?
Q: You can call the fire department at 856-854-1043 x0 and inquire about the next class or you can call the American Red Cross at 856-365-7100 for information about upcoming classes.
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Firefighters in Action:
Check out these photos of our members in action.
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