Hillsborough Fire Company # 3's new 3000 gallon KME tanker is nearing completion.  The tanker is being built at KME's Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania facility.  Delivery is expected in late June.  A wetdown will be held at the fire house on Woods Road on Saturday July 13.

About 20 members of Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 members spent Monday evening May 6 training at the Somerset County Emergency Services Academy.  Firefighters trained in several live burn exercises.

The Hillsborough Township emergency services participated in the "Every 15 Minutes" program held at Hillsborough Township High School on April 25.  The "Every 15 Minutes" program teaches high school seniors the consequences of drunk driving by staging a mock motor vehicle accident in which students have been killed.

On Saturday March 16, Hillsborough Cub Scout Pack 389 visited Hillsborough Fire Company # 3's station for a tour of the fire house on Woods Road.  The troop members visit was part of an effort to earn their Tiger badges.  Fiefighter John Cauda was the tour host.

Station 38 firefighters attended Somerville's St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday March 10. 

On Saturday February 16, Hillsborough Township voters elected John Catrombon, Jr. and Charles Nuara as Commissioners of the Hillsborough Township Fire District.  Both individuals are current members and ex-chiefs of Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 (Station 38). Congratulations to John and Charlie.  We would also like to thank ex-chief Matt DeCicco from Station 36 and ex-chief Ken Wetzel of Station 38 for their previuos years of service as Hillsborough Fire Commisioners.
 

Hillsborough Fire Station 38 and Hillsborough Rescue Squad 79 were dispatched at 6:03 PM Monday to a three vehicle motor vehicle accident on Amwell Road, just east of Amsterdam Drive.  The initial dispatch indicated that one of the vehicles was smoking.  However, first arriving unit (Engine 38-104) was advised enroute that no fire was present.  38-104 and Special Services Unit 38-151 provided scene lighting at the accident scene until vehicles were removed.  All units cleared the scene at approximately 6:45 PM.

Seventeen members from Hillsborough Fire Companies #1 and #3 participated in two days of Ice Rescue Technician training. The morning of day one was classroom presentation followed by an afternoon of extensive practical skills in the Hillsborough YMCA pool. Day two training was conducted at Farrington Lake in East Brunswick. Temperature was 16 degrees with wind chill. Although there was a lack of solid ice, simulated conditions were achieved in the frigid water using specially designed floating docks. In the event of required immediate medical support, Hillsborough Rescue 79 staged with the fire companies.

Brad Johnson, Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 firefighter, recently completed Firefighter 1 at the Somerset County Emegency Services Academy. Chief Christian Fulmino (right) congratulates Brad.

Fire Commissioner Ken Wetzel was honored by the Hillsborough Township Committee at its meeting on Tuesday February 12.  The following is reprinted from a story written by John Patton that appeared in the Hillsborough Patch.

State and local officials paid tribute to one of Hillsborough's longest serving volunteers at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting, as Fire Commissioner Ken Wetzel was honored.

Wetzel, who is stepping down from the township's Board of Fire Commissioners, thanked his fellow volunteer firefighters and his wife, "for all those years she had to have me leave the house for fire calls."

Joining Deputy Mayor Douglas Tomson in noting Wetzel's service were local state representatives Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman, and Assembly members Donna Simon, R-Flemington, and Jack Ciattarelli, R-Hillsborough.

Tomson read the township's proclamation which noted some of Wetzel's contributions and service to the township, including:

• Joining Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Co. in April 1976
• Serving as president, Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Co. 1977-78
• Serving as chief, Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Co. 1982-83
• Serving on the Board of Fire Commissioners, 1986-2010
• Obtaining FEMA firefighters assistance grants in 2007 and 2008

The state proclamation, read by Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, declared "Be it resolved, by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, that this legislature hereby honors Ken Wetzel, commends his meritorous service on the Hillsborough Board of Fire Commissioners, and extends to him its sincere best wishes for his continued success and happiness."

Please help the Fire Department by adopting the fire hydrant closest to your home or business and keep it free of snow during the winter.  Please make it a point to uncover your fire hydrant after each and every snowfall. Clear a path approximately 3 feet around the hydrant and shovel a path from the street or roadway up to the fire hydrant. These actions will allow the Fire Department to quickly locate the fire hydrant, obtain a water supply for firefighting activities, and give the fire department room to work with this hydrant should the need arise. Please consider helping a neighbor with a medical condition or who is elderly, by shoveling out a hydrant in front of their home. This act of kindness will benefit the entire neighborhood.

 At a fire, the Fire Department must quickly locate and gain a water supply source from the closest fire hydrant. A fire engine carries enough water on board for approximately 3 ½ minutes of firefighting. If a fire hydrant is buried by snow, it is difficult to find and valuable time must be spent digging it out.  It may take from 4 to 6 minutes to dig out a fire hydrant buried by snow. The delay in gaining a water supply from a fire hydrant may disrupt the timely manner in which firefighters are able to fight the fire and may allow a fire to grow.  Fire doubles in size every 20 seconds. The “Adopt A Hydrant” program is an informal program, therefore it is not necessary to advise the fire department of which hydrants you will be clearing snow from.

Hillsborough Stations 37 and 38 and Hillsborough Rescue 79 were dispatched at about 2:00 PM to an overturned vehicle on Millstone River Road near Blackwells Mills Road in Station 38's primary area. 

The accident occurred when a Hillsborough resident's pickup truck traveling north on Millstone River Road went off the road and hit the pole on the northbound side of the road. The pole was damaged but there were no serious injuries. The road was closed for several hours.

Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 and the Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 Auxiliary held their 2013 Installation dinner on January 26, 2013. Officers for both organizations were sworn in by Hillsborough Mayor Frank DelCore.


Service awards were presented to:

• Ron Yoder - 5 years
  
• Roy Horowitz - 10 years
  
• Charles Nuara - 20 years
  
• Edward Kovach - 40 Years
   
  

Other awards and presentations were:

 

• Badges to new members Brad Johnson and Ken Johnson
• Most Drills Attended: Ryan Murphy
• Top Responder: Scott Muller
• Firemen of the Year – Ryan Murphy, Michael Murphy and Brian Brownlie
• Junior Firefighter of the Year - Tyler Skolnik
• Rookie of The Year - Tom Marvits

President Andy Fingerhut presented an award to outgoing President Bob Francolini for his service.  Outgoing Chief Charles Nuara was presented with thank you plaques for his service by incoming Chief Christian Fulmino and by Board of Fire Commissioners President Ron Berju.

Additional pictures are available for viewing by going to the photo gallery section of this website.

HIllsborough Station 38 and Hillsborough Rescue 79 were dispatched at 9:10 PM to a motor vehicle accident with entrapment on Willow Road near Homestead Road.  The accident occurred when the driver of the northbound vehicle lost control and turned over several times before finally coming to a stop on its passenger side.

Engine 38-104 and Special Services Unit 38-151 arrived at the accident scene and assisted Rescue 79 with the extrication of one occupant.  Both units also provided lighting at the scene while 38-104 provided a stretched handline.  Ladder 38-118 secured a landing site for a medivac helicopter which transferred the patient to the hospital.

All units cleared the scene at about 11:40 PM.

Additional photos can be viewed by clicking on the camera icon. 

Hillsborough Fire Company # 3 responded to 346 alarms in 2012.  Top responders for the year were:

 1 Scott Muller           254

 2 Christian Fulmino  236

 3 Ryan Murphy         225

 4 Ed Kovach             223

 5 Charles Nuara       213

 6 Ken Wetzel            208

 7 Rick Artz                200

 8 Mike Murphy          194

 9 Tom Marvits           180

10 Manfred Nowacki  172