TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON: Firefighters Forced to ‘Jump Off Trucks’ to Stop Traffic—Mayor Eyes County for Funding Fix
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, NJ – Safety is the top priority, but for the volunteers at the Township of Washington’s Emergency Services Building, responding to calls has become a dangerous gamble. Officials are sounding the alarm that traffic outside the new firehouse on Washington Avenue is “getting out of hand,” putting firefighters and EMS volunteers at serious risk.
Mayor Peter Calamari recently announced he will reach out to Bergen County officials to secure funding for dedicated emergency stop signals. If county aid isn’t possible, the Township will look to install the signals itself.
The Danger Zone: A “Critical” Issue on Washington Avenue
Councilman and long-time volunteer firefighter Tom Sears brought the urgent issue to the September 22 Council meeting. The Emergency Services Building, which opened in late 2022 and also houses county EMS units, faces high-volume, aggressive traffic.
“Traffic in front of the Emergency Services Building on residential Washington Avenue is getting out of hand,” Sears warned. He described hazardous situations where volunteers are “forced to jump off the truck to try to stop traffic” when backing the fire engine into the bays. “It’s very dangerous at night. It’s becoming a critical, critical issue.”
The hazard is compounded by the road’s configuration, as Council Vice President Steven Cascio noted, where two lanes merge into one lane eastbound, increasing the speed and confusion for drivers near the building exit.
The Funding Fix: $54,000 Reserved for Safety
The Township Council took immediate action by agreeing to leave nearly $54,000 untouched in the original firehouse building’s capital account. This money is earmarked for installing blinking warning lights—a crucial safety measure that would stop traffic when emergency vehicles exit or return to the $6 million facility at 656 Washington Ave.
Council President Michael DeSena confirmed that remote-controlled, solar-powered flashing lights were, in fact, included in the original plans for the complex.
Mayor Calamari explained the delay, stating that the county initially thought flashing lights could be tied into the existing traffic light system, but later determined the firehouse was “too far” from the intersection for that solution to work.
Sears stressed that every dollar remaining in the account must be dedicated to protecting the volunteers. “It’s now critical that we get this,” he pleaded.
A Promise to Volunteers
The construction of the modern Emergency Services Complex was a major undertaking, symbolizing the Township’s appreciation for its volunteer first responders. As Mayor Calamari noted at the 2020 groundbreaking, the new facility was built to “show them our appreciation for all they do for our community.”
Now, the focus shifts to ensuring that the volunteers are safe every single time they answer an emergency call. The Township is moving swiftly to resolve this safety gap, whether through Bergen County assistance or by utilizing dedicated municipal funds.
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