Basking Ridge Fire Co. No. 1 Dispatches 21 Area Volunteer Fire Departments to 5-Alarm Event at Verizon

On Sunday morning November 5, 2017, over one hundred volunteer emergency responders conducted a drill at the Verizon Corporate campus in Basking Ridge. The exercise was organized by the Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1, in conjunction with the North Somerset County Mutual Aid Association, and with the cooperation of Verizon management. The drill allowed firefighters and other first responders from six counties to work together at a large incident, and also measured the water flow capacity of the campus.

According to Verizon, approximately 6000 people visit or work each day at the 1.4 million square foot facility.

The organizers used a 5-alarm assignment to organize their response to a large incident. This simulation taught valuable lessons that will be used in future emergencies.

Twenty-one area fire departments from 6 counties responded with thirty-two pieces of emergency apparatus; all but one of the organizations are staffed entirely by volunteers. The incident commander was Chief Jack McGrath of Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1.

The teams operated for three hours flowing water throughout the campus. This large operation required the cooperation of fire, EMS, rescue units, fire prevention personnel, Verizon employees and police officers, to ensure the safety of the responders. Many dozens of planning hours organized this event and coordinated the activity with Verizon and the United American Water Company.

Chief McGrath deemed the drill a success. The Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 offers its sincere thanks to all participants that helped to make this drill a valuable learning experience. This is just one example of the ongoing training that our volunteers use to prepare to serve their communities.

The full list of participating agencies is below.

Basking Ridge FD Basking Ridge EMS Bedminster/Far Hills FD Berkeley Heights FD Bernardsville FD Brookside FD Chatham Township FD Chester FD Elmwood Park FD Fairmont FD

Green Knoll FD Green Village FD Liberty Corner FD Lyons FD Mendham Boro FD Millington FD New Vernon FD Peapack FD Pottersville, BD Stirling FD Warren FD

 

The Basking Ridge Fire Company and EMS Squad is actively seeking township residents, or those who work in the community, to join the organization as volunteer firefighters and/or EMTs. Contact us at: membership@brfco.com.