WESTWOOD FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO THIRTY INCIDENTS OCTOBER 2025
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The Westwood Fire Department, led by Fire Chief Brian Kronewitter, was called 30 times for
emergencies during the month of October 2025. Chief Kronewitter reports that none of the calls turned
out to be a serious fire in Westwood.
These 30 emergency calls, five training drills and two work/maintenance sessions required almost 500
hours of volunteer time.
The Westwood Fire Department was called out of town for nine mutual aid incidents. Responding four
times to River Vale, twice to Woodcliff Lake and three times to Hillsdale. One of the mutual aid incidents
in Hillsdale was a serious house fire which was previously reported in the Pascack Press.
Automatic fire alarms were received ten times in October. 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. Two times alarm system malfunctions required the fire department to respond
and investigate. Smoke from cooking caused four responses. An unintentional alarm box pulled and a
contractor in a building caused two emergency calls. On one occasion a burglar alarm was incorrectly
thought to be a fire alarm.
On five occasions Carbon Monoxide (CO) calls were received. Readers are reminded that CO is an
odorless and colorless gas caused by malfunctioning heating or cooking equipment among other causes.
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 one incident and one
incident was caused by a malfunctioning detector. Slight CO readings were detected by fire crews at one
incident; firefighters vented the building with fans carried on fire trucks and turned the scene over to
Public Service gas techs. A malfunctioning boiler sent Carbon Monoxide throughout another building.
Firefighters shut the boiler, vented the premises and awaited Public Service gas technicians.
On two occasions citizens smelled natural gas. The fire department responded and investigated each.
No gas was found on one occasion. At the other scene the gas company was already on location and no
fire department action was needed. Westwood Fire Department standard policy is to turn these gas and
carbon monoxide problems over to Public Service gas technicians for further investigation.
Several other emergency calls consisted of a citizen stuck in an elevator who required to be rescued by
fire rescue crews. A car struck a building. At this incident fire department rescue firefighters assessed
the building for damage and found a gas line and water line damaged. Fire fighters shut the water line to
the building and gas company techs shut the gas. Firefighters then vented the gas that had seeped into
the building.
The Westwood Fire Department and Fire Prevention Bureau would like to remind readers that in order
to have a fire-safe happy holiday season the following precautions must be taken into consideration:
Live Christmas trees dry out quickly. They must be watered every day to reduce fire hazards.
Before stringing lights make sure; they are in safe condition with no exposed wiring or loose sockets.
Be sure all extension cords are in good condition and never run them under a rug or carpet.
Electrical devices should be approved and labeled by a testing service ie. UL (Underwriters Laboratories).
Never leave holiday candles burning unless they can be constantly watched.
Never remove a smoke detector battery to use in a new toy or battery-operated appliance.
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.