Teaneck Fire Department

The question of forming Teaneck's first volunteer company was first considered in the summer of 1904 by the residents of Manhattan Heights and Selvage developments. Prior to the end of 1904, the residents officially formed the Upper Teaneck Volunteer Fireman's Association. They organized as Company #1 and were quartered at 1188 Teaneck Road. Organizers included Kenloch V. Ridley and Walter Kaltenback, the first paid chief of department and the first paid firefighter respectively when the department transitioned to a career (paid) department. Company #1 protected north of Cedar Lane to the Bergenfield, the sections of Teaneck known as Manhattan Heights, West Englewood Park and Upper Teaneck. They also responded as the second due engine in the remaining three districts. Company #1 was called upon to fight their first fire on December 8, 1904. On October 6, 1906 they held their first drill. Both of these would be first's in the history of The Teaneck Fire Department. In 1907 the company was forced to move to 18 Fairview Avenue but also obtained Teaneck's first motorized fire apparatus. The building at 18 Fairview Avenue was Fire Headquarters from 1915 until 1920

Teaneck's second volunteer company was formed in 1908 by the residents of Bogota Park as the Cedar Volunteer Firemen's Association and organized Hose Company #2. From 1907 to 1913 they were located in a member's barn on Linden Avenue. Company #2 protected north to West Englewood Park, and west of the West Shore railroad to the Hackensack River. In 1912 a new station was constructed on Kenwood Place which remained Station 2 and housed Engine 2 until 1953.

The Lower Teaneck Volunteer Fireman's Association was the third Company was organized in October 1911 as Hose Company #1. They were quartered in a member's barn on the south end of Teaneck Road. They served the section of town known as Lower Teaneck. In 1914 the members rented a garage at 375 Queen Anne Road to store equipment and serve the expanding South Queen Anne Road business district. Shortly before World War I, in 1913 the Company acquired two building lots on Morningside Terrace, and in 1920 completed building their quarters on the lots. This was 395 Morningside Terrace which was Station 3 and housed Engine 3 from 1920 until 1990.

The Glenwood Park Volunteer Firemen's Association, the 4th and final volunteer company, was organized in 1911 and quartered in a blacksmith shop at Glenwood Ave and Fabry Terrace until 1913. In 1913 they relocated to Glenwood Ave and Hemlock Terrace South. When Teaneck went to a career department in 1915, The Glenwood Park Volunteer Firemen retained their status as a complete volunteer company and responded to first alarm fires in their district and also to second alarm fires in all other parts of the Township. They remained active until 1948 when they were disbanded and its members went on to organize the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps[1][2]

The Fire Suppression and Rescue Operations are commanded by the on duty tour commander. The tour commander is in charge of the platoon on duty and is usually a Battalion Chief. The Battalion Chief/tour commander reports to the Chief of the Department. Each platoon consists of: 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Captain, 4 Lieutenants and 15 Firefighters.

The FIU conducts investigations of all fires for origin and cause within the Township of Teaneck. If arson is suspected, FIU works with the Teaneck Police Department, Bergen County Sheriffs, The Bergen County Arson Squad and any State/Federal agency required.[6]

The Teaneck Fire Department, a recognized New Jersey Division of Fire Safety Eligible Organization, conducts thousands of man-hours of training every year. Many of the training courses delivered by the Training Bureau are courses and training materials that have been developed by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and the National Fire Academy. Other materials presented consisted of courses developed by the Federal Government or in house using resident subject-matter experts. Whether it is through classroom, presentations, hands-on, federal, state or regional sponsored training.[7] The Training Bureau has 1 Battalion Chief assigned to it.

Teaneck has 315 fire alarm boxes located within the Township. While most are Gamewell Alarm Boxes, there are some radio and electronic fire alarm boxes. Any of the boxes can be pulled to alert The Teaneck Fire Department to any incident; ranging from fire calls, to rescue calls, to medical calls. Many of the boxes are attached to high occupancy buildings, high rises, places of assembly and high hazard buildings. These are referred to as Master boxes, meaning they are attached to a building and tied into their interior alarm system. Should a condition set off an interior alarm, the fire alarm box would also be tripped and the Fire Department would be notified. Most of the fire alarm boxes also have the ability to be manually pulled by a bystander. The fire alarm boxes operate independent of the electrical grid, telephone systems and private alarm companies.[8]

The Fire Prevention Bureau enforces Teaneck's Fire Code. The fire code helps mitigate fire hazards within all structures regardless of occupancy within the townships jurisdiction. Periodic inspections of high life hazard buildings and commercial occupancy's are mandatory under the fire code (e.g. schools, local businesses, factories, hospitals, nursing homes, all commercial businesses, industrial and office buildings). All new constructions, renovations and additions are inspected by the fire official or the fire inspectors prior to a certificate of occupancy being issued. The Bureau is headed by 1 Fire Official (Lieutenant) and also has 2 fire inspectors (Lieutenants) and 1 clerk.[9][10]

• Ladder 2: 617 Cedar Lane – Closed 7/1/1963
• Engine 1: 1231 Teaneck Road – Closed 11/15/2018
• Rescue 1: 1231 Teaneck Road – Closed 11/15/2018

• Upper Teaneck Volunteer Firemen's Association – Became Company 1 (Engine 1) in 1915
• Cedar Volunteer Firemen's Association – Became Company 2 (Engine 2) in 1915
• Lower Teaneck Volunteer Firemen's Association – Became Company 3 (Engine 3) in 1915
• Glenwood Park Volunteer Firemen's Association – Disbanded in 1948

• Engine 1: 1188 Teaneck Road – Relocated to 16 Fairview Avenue in 1907
• Engine 1: 16 Fairview Avenue – Relocated to 1217 Teaneck Road in 1920
• Engine 1: 1217 Teaneck Road – Relocated to 1231 Teaneck Road (Headquarters) in 1948
• Engine 2: 513 Kenwood Place – Relocated to 617 Cedar Lane (Station 2) in 1954
• Engine 3: 395 Morningside Terrace – Relocated to 370 Teaneck Road (Station 3) in 1990

• Engine 3: 370 Teaneck Road – Reorganized on 11/4/2020 at 1200 hours as Squad Company 23
• Engine 4: 1375 Windsor Road – Reorganized on 11/18/2020 at 2230 hours as Squad Company 24