DEPARTMENT HISTORY
Engine Co. 1 Roster Rescue/Engine Co. 2 Roster
Ladder Co. 3 Roster Engine Co. 4 Roster
The following history was written by FF. Jack Reilly, Engine Co. 1 and FF. James A Hunt, Sr., Engine Co. 1 for the departments 100th Anniversary which was celebrated on July 11, 1988. It is dedicated to all those who have served the residents of Fort Lee with distinction and honor who have gone before us and to those who will follow.
"The Fireman"
I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman.
The position may in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one;
But we who know the work which a fireman has to do believe it a noble calling.
Under the impulses of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrill us and stimulates us
to deeds of daring - even a supreme sacrifice.
ENGINE CO. 1
ORGANIZED JULY 11, 1888
Present Quarters of Engine Co. 1
146 Main Street
Engine 1 (FL-1) Engine 5 (FL-5)
JULY 11, 1888
Fort Lee was then a part of the Ridgefield Township and there was no fire protection services in this section of the township. A meeting was held in the Schlosser Hotel to organize the residents to start a fire department. Those participating were from Fort Lee’s pioneer families: Schlupp, McNally, Beyer, Semmindger, Hanover, Kimball, Lang, Schlosser, Hunt and Hoyle. These and so many others were the first to band together in Fort Lee to fight the perils and ravages of fire so that the homes of their families and neighbors might be safe.
The meeting was called to order by Phillip Beyer. A motion was made and carried that Morris Hanover be elected as Temporary Chairman and Edward Fitzgerald be elected as Temporary Secretary. The following members were enrolled: Morris Hanover, Edward Fitzgerald, Phillip Beyer, Louis Schlupp, William Kalisher, John A. Lang, Lames McNally, Arthur Kimball, Joseph Schlosser, Jr., Jacob Beyer, Guido Semmindinger, William Hoyle, Thomas A McNally, Charles A. Hundt, Jr., Andrew Roos, Gustave Schulmann and L.H. Van Sycle.
JULY 18, 1888
A meeting was held at the Schlosser Hall and was called to order by Chairman Pro Tem Morris Hanover. A motion was made and carried that there will be a 50 cent membership fee charged to the following new members: Henry Benecke, William Walder, George Linder, Charles A Hundt, Sr., J.H. Guntzer, Charles E. Richter, Phillip Hook, John H. Brandt. Joseph Schlosser, Sr., Charles Hummel, Michael McNally, John Hartmann and George Roof. A motion was made and carried that the fire company be formally and permanently organized with the following officers: Morris Hanover - President, George Linder - Vice President, Phillip Beyer - Secretary, John A Brandt - Treasurer, Arthur Kimble - Sgt.-at-Arms, Charles A. Hundt, Sr. - Temporary Fire Chief. A motion was made and carried that the new fire company be known as "Fort Lee Fire Protection Association No. 1".
Charles A. Hundt, Sr. was elected as Chief of Department; George Linder as Assistant Chief; Louis Schlupp as Foreman and Jacob Beyer as Assistant Foreman. (Foreman and Assistant Foreman were later changed to Captain and Lieutenant).
Even in the days of the late 1800’s, possibly even more so than today, financial backing would be necessary. This problem was tackled by the townspeople. The newly-formed fire department solicited subscriptions in order to raise the necessary finances. At its initial fund drive $400.00 was raised and an additional $500.00 was received at the first Annual Fireman’s Ball. It was with this $900.00 that the people of Fort Lee acquired their first piece of fire apparatus on August 28, 1888 - a horse drawn combination pumper for $875.00
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
(THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE 1st PIECE OF FIRE APPARATUS FOR THE DEPT.)
Now with a piece of apparatus to work with, the volunteers had to have some way of transmitting alarms. It was now that an unexpected occurrence took place. In the center of the village of Fort Lee stood another pioneer mark, the Holy Angels Convent, and it was this dedicated group of nuns that became Fort Lee’s first fire alarm dispatchers. At a report of a fire, one of the good sisters would ring the bell in the tower of the convent to summons the volunteers.
During this time, the fire wagon was temporarily housed in the barn of Oscar Buckheister.
The fire district ran from the Hudson River westward to the crest of the Leonia Hill and from Main Street north to the Demoras house north of the present Fort Lee-Englewood Cliffs border. The first chief officers were elected: Chief of Department was Charles A. Hundt, Sr. and Assistant Chief George Linder. The first company officers were elected: Foreman Louis Schlupp, Assistant Foreman Jacob Beyer with the company being directed administratively by Morris Hanover and J. Fletcher Burdette.
As the years went on Fire Protective Association No. 1 conferred with the water company to construct a system of cisterns, which was done to further afford the citizens more efficient protection.
Members of Fire Protection Association attending a parade on October 1, 1888
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1889
On January 8th, Charles A. Hundt, Sr. was re-elected as Chief of Department.
On February 25th, a committee of three firefighters - J.F. Burdett, A. Kimble and James McNally was formed to find a site for building a firehouse.
On August 13th, Mrs. Brossnahan offered to sell a piece of property to the association for $450.00. The property was purchased and the first fire house was built for a little over $1,050.00.
On December 25th, the association moved into its new firehouse, which is at its present day location on Main Street. The building was a 22ft by 40ft, two story wood frame structure with a peaked roof and a 15ft. bell tower, The cornerstone for the firehouse was laid with the names of all of the members. The current firehouse (see picture above) was built in 1929.
1896
The Firemen’s Relief Association was formed with Morris Hanover, Phillip Beyer and Ed Fitzgerald at the reins.
1897
The president of the Fire Protection Association No. 1 had the honor of informing the membership that the $800.00 mortgage on its building was canceled.
1898
Fire Protective Association No. 1 went under the jurisdiction of the Ridgefield Township.
RESCUE/ENGINE CO. 2
ORGANIZED JULY 9, 1900
Present Quarters of Rescue/Engine Co. 2
Lemoine Avenue
Rescue 1 (FL-R) Engine 2 (FL-2)
JULY 9, 1900
A group of citizens from the "Frozen North" - Coytesville, decided that it was time to organize a fire unit. They meet in Brannigan’s barn on the night of July 9, 1900 and notified the Ridgefield Township of their intentions to initiate a fire company. They gained recognition from the township and proceeded with their plans.
1901
Their first fire house was located in Mrs. Dempsey’s blacksmith shop. A year later, in 1901, many of the early movie stars living in what is now Coytesville ran a benefit performance at Buckheister’s Park in Fort Lee. Among those performing were Maurice Barrymore and Charles Drew. With the proceeds of the benefit, land was purchased on Washington Avenue and a fire house and community hall was constructed. The volunteers also acquire a hose reel and a two-wheeled ladder truck which carried two small ladders, a few lengths of hose and numerous leather buckets.
LADDER CO. 3
ORGANIZED JANUARY 18, 1902
Present Quarters of Ladder Co. 3
557 Main Street
Truck 1 (FL-T1) Truck 2 (FL-T2) Engine 3 (FL-3)
JANUARY 18, 1902
At 2:00am in the Taylorville section of Fort Lee, as West Fort Lee was then known, the need for fire protection had been growing rapidly. A group of citizens met in Getche’s Hall on Hofley’s Lane and decided to form a fire company - Protection Company No. 3. As the meeting progresses, President Charles Goebel reads a list of the members present and asks if they will pledge to serve the community in time of need and so another fire company was born. For their first piece of apparatus the town fathers give them a four- wheeled hose wagon.
An explosion destroyed the home of John Paiughi and killed four of his children.
1910
Members of Ladder Co. 3 with the Mayor John Abbott in front of their quarters on Jones Road.
ENGINE CO. 4
ORGANIZED JANUARY 9, 1906
Present Quarters of Engine Co. 4
4 Brinkerhoff Avenue
Engine 4 (FL-4) Engine 6 (FL-6)
JANUARY 9, 1906
The southern portion of the borough, know as the Palisade section, was a heavily wooded tract of land in which many expensive homes were built. As the area was being developed their need for fire protection was becoming evident. So on the night of January 9, 1906 a group of public-spirited citizens gathered together and formed Palisade Company No. 4. At first the unit was but an auxiliary company to both Fort Lee and Palisades Park, but later the factions in the company split with some going to Fort Lee and the rest going to Palisades Park. When Fort Lee took jurisdiction of the land west of Abbott Boulevard to the present border, the company was reunited.
Palisade Company No. 4 received their first piece of apparatus, a hose wagon, which was purchased by the town and originally assigned to Fire Protective Association No. 1. Among those who were members of Company No. 4 in the past were Richard Bennett, actor and father of the Bennett sisters - Constance and Joan Bennett; authors Baily Mallard and Arthur Carson; doctors Burton Opitz and Walter Rautenstrauch.
1907 to 1920
Between the years of 1907 and 1920 Fort Lee was the scene of many movies and this infant industry was the scene of many of the town’s more disastrous fires such as the Eclair Film Studio fire, the New Venice Hotel fire and the Solax Studio fire.
1920
This was the year that the world famous Palisades Amusement Park had its first major fire which destroyed one of the oldest pavilions in the park, Mrs. Noffka's restaurant.
1925
One of the more spectacular fires was also one of the deadliest. The fire was at the Evan’s Film Studio on Linwood Avenue on February 11, 1925. This fire caused several deaths and injured a number of firefighters all from an explosion in one of the film vaults. One of those killed was FF. Fred Cavaliere of Fire Protective Association No. 1., thus becoming the departments first firefighter killed in the Line of Duty. FF. Cavaliere was entombed in the hero’s crypt in the Fairview Mausoleum and each year his sacrifice is remembered when the members of the department place a wreath and hold a memorial service at his crypt. (see Memorial page for more details)
As the borough did not carry insurance on its firefighters, all organizations in the town pitched in to aid the families of those firefighters injured at the Evan’s Film Studio fire. This was done in conjunction with the Fireman’s Relief Association. Shortly after this sad experience, the Borough of Fort Lee started insuring all of its firefighters against injury and death.
1926
The department inaugurated its Memorial Service when it commemorates all of the deceased members, both active and exempt. Years ago the ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Fort Lee High School where a six foot cross with a light for each member who had passed away was lit in their memory. This was changed when a park on Whiteman Street was dedicated as Firemen’s Park and the memorial service has been held at the park since.
FIREMEN'S MEMORIAL PARK
MONUMENT TO FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS IN FIREMEN'S MEMORIAL PARK
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
The department purchased its first motorized piece of fire apparatus.
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
All fire alarms were now received at the borough’s police headquarters and transmitted to each fire house via phone and sirens now replaced the bell in the convent tower.
1928
The second major fire the department faced at Palisades Amusement Park when the "Skyrocket Roller Coaster" and several other rides were destroyed.
In May, the department responded to a massive explosion that had occurred at Palisades Amusement Park when the fireworks display blow up. The displays were stored in two sheds near the huge Palisades Amusement Park sign that was located on the cliffs and faced towards New York City
1929
July 4, 1929 was a red letter day for Fire Protective Association No. 1 when the members dedicated their new fire house, the present structure on Main Street, and a new Ahrens-Fox motorized fire truck was put into service. This truck was one of the most modern pieces of fire apparatus in the surrounding area.
1931 to 1936
The department’s good work enabled it to attain reductions in the insurance rating. The first was obtained through the efforts of then Chief of Department Ed New and latter another reduction by then Chief of Department Lester Ghent.
1935
On July 1st a fire broke out in the northeast section of Palisades Amusement Park in the area of the "Old Mill" ride. The park was busy with an estimated 10,000 people within the park. The fire spread rapidly as concessionaires tried in vain to extinguish the fire. The flames were so high and fanned by easterly winds, that people in New York City on Riverside Drive from 72nd Street to Dyckman Street stopped and caused huge traffic jams. When the fire reached the shooting gallery, ammunition started to explode causing the firefighters and spectators to duck behind trees and fences to avoid the ricocheting pellets. It took over six hours to extinguish the blaze and when it was all over 19 people - including 11 of the 125 firefighters on the scene - had been injured; one-eighth of the park was in ruins (16 separate buildings) and the cost of the damage was over $150,000.
1936
The department responds to the famous Thanksgiving Day fire at Ben Marden’s Old Riviera Hotel and Resort just off Hudson Terrace north of the George Washington Bridg which is now the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
1937
Members of Engine Co. 4 at their quarters located on Palisades Amusement Park property in 1937
1942
Members of Engine Co. 4 try out their new engine - the first motorized apparatus for the company. FF. Anthony Czaszar is driving the engine (make and model unknown) with unidentified firefighters on the rear step.
1944
On Sunday August 13th the department responded to one of the worst and deadliest fires in its history. A fire had broken out in the "Virginia Reel" amusement ride. Passengers rode in a series of tubs, each one large enough to carry eight people. The tubs whirled around through curving tracks, down steep inclines and through dark tunnels. Most people ran, but those who were less fortunate, like the group of people going through the tunnels of the ride found themselves engulfed in flames. The flames swept through the park consuming building after building. It reached the parking lot where over 100 cars were destroyed. The fire went to 14 alarms as numerous departments responded to assist in extinguishing the fire. Because the area was in the middle of long drought, firefighters were forced to use the saltwater from the pool. One engine was backed up to the edge of the pool and drafted water for the attack lines. As the fire spread, it threatened the engine by the pool. Firefighters, in an attempt to protect the engine from the flames, backed the truck down into the pool. However, between the wind swept flames and the corrosive saltwater, the engine was severely damaged. When it was all over seven people had been killed - on the "Virginia Reel" ride and 150 others were injured. The cost of the destruction was over $1 million dollars.
1947
Fort Lee together with the other surrounding towns formed the East Bergen Mutual Aid Association. This comprises the fire departments from Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs, Fairview, Palisades Park, Leonia and Ridgefield. As with any other mutual aid group, all are pledged to aid one another if called to do so. This mutual aid is unique in that it is controlled by the fire departments themselves.
From 1947 until 1973 the Cliffside Park Fire Department was the East Bergen Mutual Aid Associations Communications Center where all dispatching for mutual aid fires would be handled. It also was the dispatching center for the Fort Lee Fire Department.
1958
Rescue/Engine Co. 2 relocates to a new building at its present location on Lemoine Avenue.
At 12:30pm on November 24th, department responded to a massive fire at the old World-Peerless Studio located at t 410 Lewis Street (currently the site of today's Constitution Park). The department needed the assistance of nine mutual departments to extinguish the fire.
ALL PHOTOS COMPLIMENTS OF PAST CHIEF GEORGE KELLINGER, JR. ENG. CO. 1
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1960
In the 1960’s the Borough of Fort Lee saw a massive growth in building construction with the start of the high-rise building boom. With this new type of construction, the Fort Lee Fire Department was faced with a new problem in the fire service - fighting fires in large, tall buildings. Since Fort Lee was the first town in the area with these types of buildings, the department was on its own in learning how to contend with the problems of fighting fires in these types of buildings. As usual, the members of the department forged ahead learning by trial and error honing their skills on how to cope with these problems. Today, the department can boast about their record and their ability to respond and extinguish a fire in a high-rise building. Because the department was the first in the area with these buildings, they have been called many times in the past to share their knowledge and teach other departments what they have learned about fighting high-rise fires.
1962
Engine Co. 1 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, a Mack pumper. This unit was designated as FL-5. (This unit is no longer in service)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1963
The Fort Lee Fire Department in conjunction with the Borough of Fort Lee saw the need to have a full time fire paid prevention bureau to handle various fire inspections throughout the Borough. With that the Borough hired one of the departments own, Chief Lino Boccher of Company No. 2, as its first fire inspector. Later, the Borough hired a secretary, Carmela Berardi, to assist Chief Inspector Boccher and to also serve as the Records Clerk and secretary for the department and the Chief of Department. Mrs. Berardi worked for the fire prevention bureau and the fire department until her retirement in 1989. At her retirement she was made the departments first Honorary Chief of Department. (see Honorary Dept. Chiefs page for more details)
Since 1963 the Fort Lee Fire Prevention Bureau has grown to its present day staffing of five full time fire inspectors and one full time secretary making it the only part of the department which is paid. Among its responsibilities, the bureau handles all fire inspections on all buildings within the Borough, investigates all fires for their cause and origin and assists the department by responding to all active fire alarms during daytime hours. (see Fire Prevention Bureau page for more details)
On July 16, 1963 at 12:20am the department battled a large fire at Palisades Amusement Park's world famous "Fun House". The fire gutted the structure which was a quarter of a million dollar loss for the park.
1964
Each company posed for the department's annual photograph on Brinkerhoff Ave. in front of Engine Co. 4
1966
The department was faced with an almost tragic fire when an explosion and fire ripped through a five story building in the Linwood Park Apartment complex on July 17th. This fire injured eleven firefighters, three of them seriously.
1967
Rescue/Engine Co. 2 takes delivery of there newest piece of apparatus, a Mack pumper. This unit was designated as FL-2. (This unit is no longer in service)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1971
On April 19th the department responded to a fire at the Food Fair Supermarket in Linwood Plaza on Fletcher Avenue. The fire went to 7 alarms and required assistance from the entire East Bergen Mutual Aid.
Ladder Co. 3 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, an American LaFrance 100' ladder truck. This unit is designated as FL-T1. (This unit is no longer in service)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1972
In February, the department responded to the "last" great fire at Palisades Amusement Park that completely destroyed the seventy-five year old wood frame two story bath house and the famous Casino Bar and Restaurant. This fire went to five alarms and required a large mutual aid response.
Palisade Co. No. 4 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, a Howe Pumper with the first top mounted pump panel on the east coast. This unit was designated as FL-4. *This unit was designated as FL-6 in 1989 when the 1976 American LaFrance pumper was taken out of service & sold.
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
Rescue/Engine Co. 2 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, a Howe heavy rescue. This unit is designated as FL-R. (This unit is no longer in service)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1973
The Borough of Fort Lee started its own communications center to handle all of its police, fire and ambulance calls. With that, the Fort Lee Fire Department bid a fond farewell to the members of the Cliffside Park Fire Department and began dispatching itself around the clock with trained civilian dispatchers. In addition, to the home alarm systems installed in all of the firefighters homes, the department started issuing tone activated pagers starting with its Chiefs and Officers. By 1995 all active firefighters with the department were equipped with these pagers.
1974
Ladder Co. 3 relocates to a new building on Main Street which just around the corner from the firehouse they had been in since 1903. The relocation gave the company more room to expand. This included the addition of second truck which was a tower ladder. The move also improved the companies response route to all parts of town.
1975
Ladder Co. 3 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, a 75' Mack tower ladder. This unit was designated as FL-T2. (This unit is no longer in service)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1976
Palisade Co. No. 4 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, an American LaFrance Pumper with a 55' Snorkel. This unit was designated as FL-6. (This unit is no longer in service)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1978
Under the direction of past Chief Daniel Bridenberg, the department designed and built its own "air room" which was used to fill, monitor and maintain the departments self contained breathing apparatus system. This new idea, which was copied and implemented by the New York City Fire Department, allowed the removal of the "cascade" type air station from the fire apparatus and allowed the department to keep better control over the system and to fill the air bottles safely.
1980
The Borough of Fort Lee became the dispatching center for the East Bergen Mutual Aid Association taking over from the Cliffside Park Fire Department and hopefully has continued the fine tradition that was started by them.
From 1980 to the present, with credit going to various members of the department for future planning and foresight for communications, the Fort Lee Fire Department operates a modern communication center with state of the art equipment.
Engine Co. 1 accepts delivery of their newest piece of apparatus, a Hahn pumper. This unit is designated as FL-1. (It is presently designated as FL-5)
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
1981
Starting in 1981 and continuing until the present day, the department saw a tremendous increase in calls due in part to the passage of state and local laws requiring smoke detectors to be installed in both residential and commercial buildings. The department responds to an average of 1,700 incidents per year. Between 1981 and 1987 the department was under a tremendous strain to maintain their membership and still respond to all incidents with the proper number of firefighters.
Members of Engine Co.4 at their 75th Anniversary in 1981
1983
The department changed all of their self contained breathing apparatus over to the latest type of SCBA’s (Scott 4.5 positive pressure) which insured better safety for the firefighter.
1985
The second member in the history of the department died in the Line of Duty when Fire Inspector Howard Cooper died from a massive heart attack while on duty. (see Memorial page for more details)
1986
The department stepped into the future when it began issuing each member of the department the latest in personal protective equipment. Bunker pants and boots, nomex hoods and gloves were introduced for use at every type of incident. These additions, made out of the same life savings fabric as the coats that the firefighters were already using, provided the most advanced protection in the fire service for firefighters.
1987
This year the department also saw another historic event take place with the addition of the departments first female firefighters. FF. Lauren Hunt and FF. Heather McGoldrick joined the fire department following in their families tradition. FF. Hunt, who is the great granddaughter to the departments first chief - Chief of Department Charles Hunt, joined her brother FF. James Hunt Jr. and her father FF. James Hunt Sr. as a firefighter in Fire Protective Association No. 1. This was the first father-son daughter combination the departments history. FF. McGoldrick joined her father FF. Alan McGoldrick also as a firefighter in Fire Protective Association No. 1 making the first father-daughter combinations the history of the department.
The continuation of the Fort Lee Fire Department as a volunteer department has been accomplished through the efforts of many people. The town itself has seen a tremendous growth of high-rise residential and office buildings along with high priced luxury private homes. As a result, many of the firefighters were forced to either leave town or take on extra employment in order to pay the rent leaving them little time to devote to their duties as firefighters. Declining membership had become a serious problem.
Various proposals to stem the decline had been discussed between the department and Borough officials over a number of years with no real solution in sight. In 1987 an agreement was reached, through a recommendation of a "blue ribbon" advisory panel consisting of department members and various citizens who were knowledgeable of the economic hardships faced by the department and its members, between the Mayor and Council and the department to pay the members of the department a quarterly monetary stipend for responding to any incident which the department responded to. Firefighters responding to a minimum of 35% of the calls which the department responds to over a three month period would be paid $750.00.
This program was the first of its kind in the State of New Jersey and gained praise and popularity from numerous fire departments throughout the state and from other parts of the country. Finally the volunteer fire service had a viable solution to the raising costs of housing for its members. Then Chief Robert Cullen noted that because of this agreement there had been an increased number of personnel responding to the calls and that membership in the department was also increased.
This year the department saw a big step towards better educating the public about fire safety when it started the Fort Lee Fire Department Bureau of Public Fire Safety Education Unit. This units sole responsibility was to go out and teach fire safety to as many of the citizens of Fort Lee as it could about what to do to prevent fires and what to do in case of a fire. Through the fire departments and fire prevention bureaus budget and with private donations from the public, the teaching aids that this unit uses has grown in leaps and bounds. In addition to a van donated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the unit has acquired a mechanical robot named "Freddy the Fire Truck" and a "Sparky the Fire Dog" costume which are used to better educate the children about the hazards of fire. Various visual aid equipment such as a television, VCR and slide projector were donated and are used to teach various service groups, residential and office building occupants.
1988
The department celebrated its 100th anniversary as an organized fire department serving and protecting the citizens of Fort Lee since 1888. This was a major event for the department marked by a town wide parade and block party where all the citizens were invited to meet the members of the fire department and to celebrate this historic milestone with them. Fire departments from all over the county and state attended and shared in our celebration.
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
Also the department saw the return of an old friend specifically to the members of Fire Protective Association No. 1 when the association purchased back their 1929 Ahrens-Fox pumper. This antique fire truck, which is in good working condition, made a great addition to the association and introduced a part of the departments history and tradition to its younger members.
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL VIEW)
This idea of family tradition is not new in the department, but it seems to be a continuing tradition within the department. The Ghent family has the distinction of having three members of their family not only serving as firefighters in the department, but all three members served as Chief of Department starting with Chief Herman H. Ghent serving as chief in 1905 and 1906, Chief Lester H. Ghent Sr. served as chief in 1929 and Chief Lester H. Ghent Jr. served as Chief in 1967 combining 95 years of service in the department.
And the list continues: FF. Joseph Taus Sr. and his three sons FF. Joseph Taus Jr., FF. Louis Taus and FF. Hans Taus; Chief Arthur Siccardi (1971) and his son Chief John "Jack" Siccardi (1995); FF. George Kellinger Sr. and his sons Chief George Kellinger Jr. (1991), and FF. Kurt Kellinger; three brothers Chief Terry Holtje (1975), Chief Bruce Holtje (1979), FF. Ned Holtje and FF. Keith Holtje, son of Chief Bruce Holtje; Chief Donald Porrino (1974) and his son FF. Mark Porrino; Chief Gerorge Porto (1978) and his son FF. Thomas Porto; Chief J. Richard Radoian (1982) and his sons FF. Chris Radoian, FF. Mark Radoian and FF. Brian Radoian; three brothers Chief James Carney (1984), Deputy Chief Robert Carney (1983) and FF. Michael Carney; Chief Joseph Licata (1996) and his son FF. Joseph Licata, Jr.; brothers FF. Chris Drumgoole and FF. Bryan Drumgoole; Chief John L. Pascale (1990) and his son FF. Jeff Pascale; FF. Edward Bernard, Sr. from Company No. 2 seems to have the biggest contingent of family members who have joined the department. Starting with his three sons, Chief Thomas Bernard, Sr. (1980), Chief Peter Bernard (1988) and FF. Edward Bernard, Jr. It continues with his two grandsons, FF. Thomas Bernard, Jr. and FF. Jeffrey Bernard.
Palisade Co. 4 takes delivery of its newest piece of apparatus a Pierce Lance Pumper. The unit was designated as FL-4. *This unit replaced the 1976 American LaFrance pumper/snorkel.
1994
The department established its annual golf outing - "The Fort Lee Fire Department Annual Golf Classic" to raise money for fire safety education. These funds are used to purchase various teaching aids such as video tapes and pamphlets.
1997
The department established its own newsletter, "The Maltese Cross" to better inform its members concerning various department functions, anniversaries and important fire service news.
The department went high-tech when it purchased, through private donations made by local business people, its first of four Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC), which allows firefighters to find victims in a building through heavy smoke.
All department members were issued individual PASS devices. These devices - Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) - gives each firefighter added protection in case they are injured and are unable to summon help.
1998
On July 11th, the members of Ladder Co. 3 dedicated their social room in the firehouse to too of its senior members - FF. Ralph Porrino and FF. Frank "Muz" Orsino.
All companies are equipped with automatic external defibrillators (AED) with a number of personnel trained as First Responders.
1999
The department entered cyber-space with the publishing of their web site which is an interactive site that provides various information for the general public and its members.
2001
The department received its new memorial monument from the members of Engine Co. 1. The new monument is located at Firemen's Memorial Park located on Whiteman Street.
2002
Palisade Co. 4 takes delivery of its newest piece of apparatus a Pierce Lance Pumper. The unit was designated as FL-6. *This unit replaced the 1972 Howe pumper.
Past Chief Lester Ghent, Engine Co. 1 celebrates 50 years of service with the department and is honored by his company and the department at the Annual Inspection Dinner on November 2nd.
2003
The department along with the Borough of Fort Lee renames Lewis Street to "Cavaliere Way" in honor of FF. Fred Cavaliere of Engine Co. 1 who was killed in the Line of Duty on February 11, 1925. The street borderes the property where FF. Cavaliere was killed.
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