Come on down and join the ladies of station 27 for a night of fun!

Tickets are $15.00 in advance, or $20.00 at the door.

Shortly after midnight on May 9th, Station 27 was dispatched mutual aid into the Borough of Highland Park to assist HPFD units operating at a structure fire. Car 27, Squad 27 and Engine 276 responded into the borough and were immediately put to use when they arrived on scene in fire suppression and ventilation operations. Fire in the walls made progress difficult, slow and manpower intensive. Units remained on scene for approximately 2 hours overhauling and hitting hot spots.

On the night of May 6th, members from Station 27 attended live burn training at the Piscataway Fire School. Five separate crews were set up and teams rotated through assignments, functioning as search teams, fast teams and hose line attack teams. Units practiced hoseline advancement, search and extinguishment for a simulated room and contents fire with one scenario involving a mayday drill for a downed firefighter as well.

After midnight on May 2nd, Fire District 3 was dispatched to a warehouse facility on Clyde Rd for a reported dumpster fire. Units arriving on scene found a trash compactor attached to the back side of the building on fire with smoke through out the warehouse. Units on scene called for a heavy duty tow truck to move the compacter away from the building and used K12 rescue saws and foam to gain access to the inside of the compactor and extinguish the fire. Due to the highly compressed garbage and cardboard inside of the compactor, units remained on scene for a few hours to ensure that all hot spots remaining had been extinguished.

As the seven year anniversary of the day we lost a hero arrives, Chief Dan Krushinski has these words to share:

"Kevin was the type of person who walked into a room and it lit up. He commanded the attention of all around him with his quick wit, his charm and his smile. Kevin had the personality that put people at ease - whether they knew him for ten years or ten minutes. He loved to tell elaborate stories about the adventures that he had each and every day, because Kevin turned everything into an adventure. So he'd sit you down and describe his ridiculous day and by the end of the story, you'd both be laughing with tears running down your face and realized that you had just made a new best friend. Kevin started his emergency services career at the age of 16, when most his age are more concerned with video games, Kevin chose to devote his free time helping his community of Union, NJ. He joined the Union Emergency Medical Unit and that started his passion for helping others. After Kevin graduated high school, he moved to New Brunswick and started his college education at Rutgers University studying Criminal Justice. While at Rutgers University he took the job as per diem Emergency Medical Technician. Kevin then decided that he wanted to expand his knowledge of emergency services. So he joined the East Franklin Volunteer Fire Company. Kevin went to fire school, where he obtained his Firefighter 1 certification. Kevin quickly made friends in the firehouse and went to as many fires as he could, to gain more experience. He even became part of a small group that would stay at the firehouse all night, just so that if there were a call an engine could be on the road as quick as possible. In 2006, he was recognized for his efforts and was promoted to Foreman. Kevin also was a certified CPR instructor and enjoyed teaching people how they too can save lives. Kevin actively participated in anything that would benefit the community. Emergency Services was Kevin's passion and what he devoted his life to. After college, Kevin was thinking about becoming a New York City police officer. He had already taken the exam and was awaiting the results of his test. Unfortunately, he died in the line of duty on April 11, 2006, while attempting to rescue a trapped resident from her burning home. Kevin's test results came that same day that he died. He had achieved almost a perfect score on the written exam - a 99.6. Kevin left a legacy with all those he touched. He taught us the importance of volunteering, the importance of family and friends. He was a talented, passionate and selfless young man. We are all blessed to have known him."

In the early morning hours of April 6th, Station 27 was dispatched by county communications into the City of New Brunswick for a second alarm cover assignment as the city operated on a structure fire located on Suydam St. Immediately after dispatch, Car 27 called in service and was requested by fire command to respond to the scene and assist. Squad 27 called in service shortly there after and was also requested by fire command to move up to the scene. As the Squad arrived, the crew picked up their own water source from a hydrant on Rt. 27 and laid into the fire scene. The crew immediately deployed a 2.5 in blitzfire to help New Brunswick protect the exposure which was located only feet away from the well involved fire building. The remaining crew from Sq 27 then deployed a 1.75 in attack line into the exposure building to know down extension, as the driver from Sq 27 used the deck gun on the apparatus to rain down extra water on the fire building and the exposure. Units remained on scene for approximately 2 hours knocking down hot spots and performing overhaul.

On 3/30/2013, 29 firefighters from Station 27 participated in a live burn at Hunterdon County Emergency Training Center. Firefighters practiced strategy and tactics in extinguishing a basement fire, extinguishing fires on multiple floors due to extension, conducting primary and secondary searches to locate victims as per company SOP/SOG’s, practiced RIC procedures as per company SOP/SOG’s, and practiced different ventilation techniques once the fire was knocked down. Firefighters of Station 27 were all given the opportunity to perform and practice different assignments. Officers of Station 27 were able to demonstrate their knowledge and competency by rotating roles as the incident commander and taking the lead position as different crews were given assignments. All firefighters in attendance did an outstanding job with communicating with one another to accomplish the task at hand. A special thanks goes out to the Franklin-Somerset Rescue Squad for supplying a crew and establishing rehab during the live burn as well as the Hunterdon County Emergency Training Centers fire instructors who conducted the live burns. Pictures to follow.

On Saturday March 16th, members woke up early to march in the 2013 Union County St. Patrick's Day Parade. Members from Station 27 arrived in Union early to enjoy good times with other fire companies and then proceeded to march in the parade behind the Union Fire Department. We thank our members and supporters that came out on a chilly and snowy Saturday to support our station.

East Franklin Volunteer Fire Department would like to congradulate former member, Michael Lettieri on graduating from Loudoun County Fire Academy in Virginia. Michael graduated with Recuit Class 28 on Friday, February 8, 2013. Michael joined EFFD as a junior member. Mike was awarded Junior Firefighter of the Year in 2009. Good luck with your career as a professional firefighter Mike, we wish you nothing but the best!

Battalion Chief Michael Borrelli of Jersey City Fire Department instructs initial company response to hazardous materials incidents at East Franklin Fire District 3. Members from Elizabeth Ave, Millstone Valley, Middlebush, Kingston, Highland Park and Piscataway attended the class also.