West Paterson, Passaic County NJ
Usually you would expect the local fire department to rush to the aid of those in need, in a wonderful twist this time it’s the fire department that received much needed help! A generous and very welcome donation was made to the West Paterson Fire Department on August 13th. And it came about in a most unusual way!

The fire department has been struggling for many years trying to raise additional funds to purchase items it desperately needs. Things like up to date and reliable rescue tools to replace the 30 year old Hurst tool carried on Rescue 1, and with the recent flooding over the last few years, new and improved Rescue Boats. A casualty of the recent floods where the fire department responded to well over one hundred calls, was the departments one and only thermal imaging camera.

Mountain Development corporation, which owns the Garret Mountain office complex off Squirrelwood road in the borough of West Paterson became aware of the local firefighters plight. A fundraising idea was set in motion; Mountain Development hosted a Luau Party to celebrate Chairman L. Robert Leib’s birthday on July 13th. This event also invited attendee’s to make donations to the all volunteer fire department. Any and all donations would be matched by Mountain Development. It was a resounding success! One such donation in the amount of $14,000 was made by Louis J. Dearani of United Sprinkler Corporation. This money was directly set aside to purchase two SCOTT Eagle X Thermal Imaging cameras. This state of the art thermal camera can be hand-carried by firefighters to respond quickly in smoke filled structures and locate trapped or unconscious victims. Additional donations were made by Berkley School and Cytec Corporation along with many others. When the numbers were tallied up $20,000 had been raised at the event held in the parking lot of Building #3, where the Luau that included Polynesian food and dancing was held. This doubled to $40,000 as the matching funds were added. Fire Chief Paul Salomone stated “They really went over and above” commenting about Mountain Development and United sprinkler, “Our deepest appreciation goes out to them for helping the fire department”.

These funds come at a time when the fire department needs it most, with shrinking budgets and minimal donations each year, operating a completely volunteer department becomes ever so difficult these days. The West Paterson Fire Department is hoping more donations such as these may come there way. Recently grant requests failed to materialize; these monies would have gone directly into a purchase a new fire apparatus to replace a 30 year old pumper that was placed out of service earlier this year for safety reasons. In a time when the boroughs fire load swells with massive townhouse, residential and commercial development. Losing a piece of equipment is the last thing the fire service needed. Also outdated bunker gear and equipment will be the focus in the near future.

These recent donations will make a huge impact on the level of service provided by the department, the new imaging cameras will arrive soon, and a new set of Holmatro Rescue tools for Rescue Co. 1 will be purchased in the near future.