Last night we learned of a plan to disband the Ridgewood per diem EMS program, a Ā program which has served the Village for over 30 years, via Chief Van Goor’s budget proposal to Ā the Council. This decision appears to be not just a budgetary measure, but a retaliatory attack Ā against Ridgewood Emergency Services and its EMTs. We feel you should be fully informed of Ā this matter, as this is not a decision which should be taken lightly. We want to make it very clear:Ā
Ridgewood NJ, in regards to your post today about Ridgewood EMTs – this is an issue manufactured by the Fire Chief in a time that they have been responding to less and less fires. These issues started in 2019 when we made a presentation to Susan Knudsen, who saw the writing on the wall that the fire department is too expensive when compared to EMS. She is working to protect her son’s job on the fire department. A letter was sent to the Village Council the day after the Chief of Emergency Services was blindsided at the public budget meeting. This will not provide 100% coverage of EMS, as the Fire Department has provided no plan of who would respond to EMS calls in town or handle fire rehab if there is a working fire – the firefighters are still being assigned double-duty on fire apparatus and ambulances, which has already caused issues in the past. Also, this will not be cost savings as stated by the manager. All per diem EMT salaries combined are under $70,000 a year ($20.83 max pay per hour, not all employees at max Ć 13 hours a day Ć 5 days a week Ć 52 weeks a year) while the announced salary of the new firefighters would be $37,000 Ć 2, plus pensions, benefits, and training costs, with raises up to $110,000 a year each for these positions, making them the most expensive EMTs in the state – triple the average EMTs salary. I would be happy to provide a copy of the letter via email if you contact me with a good address to reach you.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department, and Ridgewood EMS personnel responded to a single vehicle, Sunday afternoon, 02/28, crash at the underpass complex of NJ Transit’s Bergen/Main Line railroad. Both occupants of the crashed vehicle refused ambulance transportation to a local hospital. A flatbed tow truck removed the wreckage. Ridgewood Fire Department, personnel attended to a crash related fluid spill, and also secured loose wiring associated with a damaged street lamp. From the photos its does appear the car may have been going the wrong way.Ā No word on what caused the crash, nor whether any summonses were issued in connection with the mishap.
Ridgewood NJ, a tree toppled by high winds Thursday morning on Knollwood Road. Several homes in the area are without power. Property damage appears to have been confined to one (1) automobile. Ridgewood Police , Fire and Emergency Services on location.Ā No injuries reported. The power outage seemed to be interfering with several, residents remote work routines .
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Fire Department wants to remind everyone that if you have a hydrant on or near your property to make sure it is properly cleared of snow. This can be critical as any that are not clear will be precious minutes spent trying to clear them to gain access to water! Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe and keep them clear.
Ridgewood NJ, no injuries were reported following a Friday evening crash at the intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and Oak Street.Ā Two (2) vehicles were removed by tow trucks.Ā Ridgewood Police and Ridgewood Fire Department responded to the incident.Ā Traffic was temporarily rerouted around the crash scene while emergency responders and tow truck operators worked.
Ridgewood NJ, a backhoe being transported on a flatbed tractor trailer struck the Linwood Avenue overpass of Route 17 southbound in Ridgewood on Wednesday afternoon, 01/27 before falling to the highway and blocking two (2) southbound travel lanes. A southbound passenger vehicle was damaged by resultant debris, but no injuries were reported in the incident. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department, and NJDOT personnel responded to the scene. A heavy duty tow truck righted the flipped backhoe, which was removed from the highway by the flatbed tractor trailer that it had fallen from.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police coordinated an intense, multi-agency search for an endangered adult female who had been observed entering the Saddle River County Park early Sunday evening, 01/24. A NJ State Police helicopter, a search dog & patrol officers of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Ridgewood Fire Department firefighters, Ridgewood Police patrol officers, Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel, Paramus Police officers, and Paramus Emergency Management staff were all deployed in an effort to locate the individual. Approximately one (1) hour after the search began, Paramus Police located her in a residential neighborhood about 1/2 mile from where she’d last been seen. She was evaluated by Paramus EMS personnel before being driven home by a Ridgewood Police patrol officer.
Paramus NJ, Firefighters from Paramus FD Engine Company #1 extinguished a Thursday evening, 01/07, motor vehicle accident related car fire on Route 17 northbound near Linwood Avenue, Paramus. An SUV traveling on Route 17 northbound careened off the highway and caught fire after mounting a pedestrian bridge’s concrete staircase before coming to a halt. The vehicle’s adult male driver was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Center’s main campus with non life threatening injuries. A tow truck removed the charred vehicle from it’s predicament. Ridgewood Fire Department, Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood EMS, and Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel responded to assist their Paramus Fire Department, Paramus Police, Paramus Rescue Squad, and Paramus EMS counterparts. Traffic on Route 17 northbound at the crash scene was limited to a single lane as emergency and vehicle recovery responders worked.
Ridgewood NJ, one (1) injury was reported in connection with a two (2) vehicle Thursday afternoon, 12/24, crash at the intersection of Oak Street and West Glen Avenue, Ridgewood. Ridgewood Police, Ridgewood Fire Department, and Ridgewood EMS responded to the incident. Miraculously, a woman and two (2) small children who occupied a Toyota SUV that was totaled in the crash escaped without a scratch. The injured individual was an occupant of a commercial work van that left the roadway and struck a unoccupied vehicle parked in nearby driveway before coming to rest. The work van and occupied Toyota SUV were towed from the scene. Police issued two (2) crash related summonses.
Ridgewood NJ, today Ridgewood Firefighters took Santa for a ride on the fire truck! The Ridgewood Professional FirefightersĀ partnered up with the Ridgewood Police and the Grinch making appearances all around the Village of Ridgewood .
These photos were taken at Glen School by Boyd Loving .
Ridgewood NJ, this Wednesday 12/23/2020 the Ridgewood Fire DepartmentĀ will be driving Santa around to all the Ridgewood Elementary Schools!Ā The department says they wonāt be able to hit every neighborhood, but they will try and hit any streets they can.Ā So come on out and see Santa and just remember to wear your masks and maintain social distancing!
Ridgewood NJ, If it is snowing or going to snow overnight, please do not park your vehicles on the streets, in order to allow our plows to do their work in clearing the snow. All sidewalks in residential districts must be cleared within 24 hours of the snow falling. Please do not place snow into the street; instead, place it back onto your own property. In addition, if you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear it of any snow accumulation.
Ridgewood NJ, it is being reported that multiple Ridgewood Firefighters have tested positiveĀ for COVID19Ā and it is being alleged that currently covid testing is being dissuaded by Village managementĀ with alleged threats to withhold health insurance payments for testing and sick days .
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Fire and Ridgewood Police personnel were dispatched to assist a Walthery Avenue resident rescue her pet Cockatiel from a privately owned shade tree on Sunday morning, 11/08. The bird, Ziggy, escaped from home sometime on Saturday, 11/07, and apparently spent the night perched high up in the tree. Firefighters and a police officer were unsuccessful in coaxing Ziggy down and recommended the owner contact a local animal control service for guidance. Some of the owner’s neighbors were last spotted throwing tennis balls into the tree in the hopes of getting Ziggy to fly back home. Anyone have a further update?
