THE WESTWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT ANSWERS 23 EMERGENCY CALLS DURING AUGUST 2025

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The Westwood Fire Department led by Fire Chief Brian Kronewitter and the Board of Fire Officers, was
called 23 times for emergency assistance during the month of August 2025. Chief Kronewitter reports
that two of the calls turned out to be serious fires in Westwood.
These 23 emergency calls, one drill and three work/maintenance sessions required over 280 hours of
volunteer time.
The Westwood Fire Department was called out of town for three incidents. To Hillsdale on two
occasions and once to River Vale. The Westwood Fire Department received mutual aid assistance on
two occasions from Emerson and River Vale.
In the early morning hours (3:58 AM) August 20 the fire department was dispatched to a report of heavy
smoke in a borough commercial building. Deputy Chief Bryan Wiecenski arrived and observed smoke
throughout the building. Two Westwood fire engines and one tower ladder truck arrived quickly.
Because the fire occurred before business hours firefighters were required to force open a door. The
Fire engine/hose crew then stretched a 2 ½ inch hose line to the interior. The Deputy Chief and the
engine/hose crew found the smoldering fire in the center of the repair room floor and quickly
extinguished the fire, keeping it to the area where it started. Other fire crews were assigned to check
the roof for any extending fire. None was found. Mutual aid assistance was received from the River Vale
and Hillsdale fire departments. Mutual aid firefighters assisted checking for fire extension. This checking
is called overhaul. Fire crews were on the scene for approximately 90 minutes. No injuries were
reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Westwood Fire Marshall’s Office.
A fire also broke out in the kitchen of a local restaurant. A full fire department response was initiated.
However, the workers in the kitchen used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire prior to the fire
department’s arrival. Fire crews quickly arrived, checked the kitchen to be sure the fire, which was
contained to the cooking appliance, did not spread. No extension was found.
Two small brush fires occurred but were quickly extinguished by responding firefighters.
Automatic fire alarms were received nine times in August. Although no fires existed at any of these
incidents, a full fire department response is required. Firefighters check the entire building to determine
if an actual fire exists. Six times alarm system malfunctions required the fire department to respond. An
unintentional sprinkler activation caused one response. Aerosol spray too close to a smoke detector and
incense burning caused one incident each.
Two Carbon Monoxide (CO) calls were received. Readers are reminded that CO is an odorless and
colorless gas caused by malfunctioning heating or cooking equipment. It can be lethal at high levels.
Again, each of these calls require a full fire department response. Fire crews check the entire building
with meters. No CO readings were found at the two incidents.
Four calls were for natural gas emergencies, the fire department responded and investigated each. No
gas was found on one occasion. A leak near an outdoor gas meter was the cause of one call. Fire crews
shut the gas to the building, checked for gas inside but found none. A small leak in a gas clothes dryer
was found. Fire crews disconnected the dryer and shut the gas to the dryer. The remaining call was a gas

pipe struck. Firefighters assisted Public Service Gas technicians at this incident. Westwood Fire
Department standard policy is to turn these problems over to Public Service gas technicians.
This article was submitted by the Westwood Fire Department. Any Fire Department related questions
can be e-mailed to wwfdchief@westwoodnj.gov or by calling 201-664-0526. The fire prevention bureau
can be reached at dblankenbush@westwoodnj.gov or by calling 201-664-7100 ext 308. PLEASE NOTE;
THESE PHONE NUMBERS ARE BUSINESS/NON-EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS, FOR FIRES/EMERGENCIES
CALL 911.