THE WESTWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT ANSWERS THIRTY- EIGHT CALLS DURING MAY 2025

 

BUSIEST MONTH IN RECENT MEMORY

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Under the command of Fire Chief Brian Kronewitter, the Westwood Fire Department was called
38 times for emergency assistance during the month of May 2025. Chief Kronewitter reports
that none of the calls turned out to be a serious fire in Westwood. One of the incidents was for
a small fire in the engine compartment of an auto which was out prior to the fire department
arrival. Another call turned out to be a small fire in an oven, contained to the oven but already
out before the fire department arrived. At these two incidents fire crews checked to be sure the
fires did not spread.
The 38 emergency calls, two training drills and three work/maintenance sessions
required over 440 hours of volunteer time.
The Westwood Fire Department was called out of town for six incidents. To assist the Hillsdale
Fire Department on three occasions and once each to River Vale and Emerson. One of the
responses to Hillsdale was for a fire at Pascack Valley High School. Also, Westwood Fire crews
responded to Upper Saddle River to assist at the scene of a serious house fire.
Automatic fire alarms were received twenty-one times in March. 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. Three times the alarms were set off by cooking.
Contractors working in buildings set off alarms at five incidents and alarm malfunctions caused
firefighters to respond on eleven occasions.
The department responded three times to natural gas smells. Each time a full department
response is required. Firefighters check the entire building with meters however; no gas was
present at any of the calls. As is standard procedure, these incidents are turned over to PSE&G
gas company technicians for further investigation.
Three 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 two of the incidents. The third
was a resident changing the battery in a carbon monoxide detector.
On one occasion Westwood fire crews were called to the scene to assist Emergency Medical
Services members.

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.