Summit Fire Department Receives Class 2 Insurance Rating

The Summit Fire Department received a Class 2 rating from the Insurance Services Office.

An improved insurance rating obtained by the Summit Fire Department could mean lower insurance premiums for some local businesses and homeowners. The Summit Fire Department has received a Level 2 rating by the Insurance Services Office through their Public Protections Classification. The rating was given following a review of the department’s services that took place this past spring. According to fire officials, the rating could help business owners or owners of large homes to reduce their fire insurance premiums. Prior to this rating, the last time the department was reviewed was in 2000, when it received a "split rating" of 3.9. The Fire Department's rating has since improved to a Class 2. According to a press release from the Summit …

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Summit, New Providence Take Next Steps Toward Shared Dispatch Center

Communities to meet with existing dispatchers, equipment vendors in January; engaging consultant for proposed timeline for dispatch center's construction, implementation.

New Providence and Summit continue to inch closer to a shared emergency dispatch center, which could be up and running in 12 to 18 months. At their most recent meetings, New Providence Borough Council and Summit Common Council approved identical ordinances and resolutions that lay out the groundwork for this shared service, which will be housed in the New Providence Municipal Center where the Rescue Squad was formerly located. Members of the center’s project committee met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the next steps toward making this shared service a reality. Members of that committee include: Chris Cotter, City of Summit Administrator; Doug Marvin, New Providence Borough Administrator; Robert Weck, City of Summit Police Chief; Anthony …

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Summit PD, Fire Squad to Pull Plane for Benefit Event

Led by Det. Sergeant Peter Frank of the Summit Police Detective Bureau, the team will participate for the 15th time in the Annual Plane Pull at Newark Airport.

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from Special Olympics New Jersey. On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Summit Police & Fire departments may face one of their toughest challenges at the 2012 Plane Pull benefiting Special Olympics New Jersey. The fundraiser begins at 8 a.m. and challenges teams to pull a Boeing 737 weighing over 93,000 lbs. across the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Summit Police & Fire team is led by Sgt. Peter Frank, whose team has participated in this event for the past 15 years. Frank says, "We support Special Olympics New Jersey because it's important to all members of PBA Local 55 and FMBA 54." In addition to the Plane Pull, he says the Summit Police Department participates in the annual Torch…

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Summit Tolls Bell of Remembrance for 9/11 (Video)

A former deputy fire chief Rich Degroot sounded the Memorial Bell to acknowledge those lost during Sept. 11, 2001.

It was a gathering that saw Summit officials lined up outside the Summit Firehouse along with police and fire fighters.  A solemn ceremony that was punctuated by the sounding of the Memorial Bell, which is dedicated to all of Summit's fallen firemen. While none of the firefighters from Summit perished in the terrorist attacks of 9/11, it was evident the pain was still there as Summit Fire Chief Joseph Houck, behind dark sunglasses and several other firefighters, appeared to be fighting back tears as they presented a small host of speakers which included Summit Mayor Ellen Dickson and Councilman Patrick Hurley.

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Summit Survey

Summit Survey: Councilman Fights Fire With Firefighters

Ward II Councilman Patrick Hurley shares his experience training with the Summit Fire Department.

This past spring Ward II Councilman Patrick Hurley did something most city councilmen are not susposed to do: he practiced fighting fires with Summit's bravest. But if you know anything about Hurley a combat-trained naval aviator, then you know danger is nothing new to him. Here, in his own words he describes what it was like to train with the Summit and Millburn fire departments: I am not a volunteer fire fighter but I was invited, in my capacity as Chairman of the Public Safety Comittee on Council, to accompany Platoon C of the Summit Fire Department on their annual live fire training which took place at the Morris County fire training facility [May 16]. They let me do more than the average observer since I had a lot of fire fighting …

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Fire Department Trains to Descend (Video)

Firefighters train on a quick exit from a burning building, with gear and all.

[Video] SFD Rescue Workers Train to Descend

Patch caught firefighters training on their window exits over the weekend.

Here's a look at some of the practice firefighters put in to make sure they can lower themselves out of buildings.

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1 Hospitalized in Friday Night Blaze

Red cross assists 11 residents with relocation.

A late-night, two-alarm fire on Friday injured one resident and damaged a home at 50 Ashwood Avenue. Nearly a dozen residents were displaced and required relocation assistance from the Red Cross, according to a fire official. The Summit Volunteer Ambulance Squad took an unidentified resident to Overlook Hospital with minor injuries, according Summit Fire Chief Joseph Houck. Eleven residents were waiting to be relocated by the Red Cross before the fire was brought to a complete end. "I thank god my family got out safely," said Jose Garcia who lives with his wife and six children. He was hoping to get access to his home to see what he could retrieve. Despite the damage, Garcia said that everything was fine and the fire was handled well. …

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Letter to the Editor: Washington School Second Graders Rake in Over $3,000

The Saving the Summit Fire Truck fundraiser has netted $3,570.21 so far. Take a look at the students' photos.

Dear Summit Residents, Thank you for taking such an interest in Saving the Summit Fire Truck. As of this morning our class has raised $3,570.21.   Even though we are done collecting money at Washington School the fire truck still needs your support. Please send in checks to the Summit Historical Society attention Friends of the Fire Truck. You can also follow up at www.summitchemicalengine.org ! Our class has become experts on money so that question of the day is Are You Smarter Than a Second Grader? Copper 1/2 cent(1793-1857)         2 cent piece (1864-1873)         3 cent copper nickel (1851-1873)         half dime (1794-1872)         20 cent piece (185-1878)         Trade dollars (1873-1885)         penny Abraham Lincoln         nickel …

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Letter to the Editor: Washington School Second Grade Penny Drive

Laura Madden's second grade class is working to raise $1,000.

Dear Editor,   We would like to update you on our fundraising efforts to save the 1927 Chemical Fire Truck. Since last week we have raised atotal of $411.57! Our goal is to raise $1000 by this Friday, Jan. 20th. So we need your help!  Not only have we raised money, but, Coldwell Banker has joined in our effort to help us save the fire truck! You can now find decorated cans all around town to donate your extra change. This means the town goal is to raise $75,000 so that we can preserve part of Summit History, which is important to helping students learn about the community of Summit. Even though our efforts will end on Friday, Jan. 20th the Penny Drive around Summit will continue until Friday, Jan. 29th ending with the Summit LEGO Project …

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Lori Dahl

10:43 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012

Stop by Coldwell Banker Summit to give 'Carter' the Dalmatian a donation for the 2nd graders to save Summit's 1927 Firetruck.    more ›