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Station 51 ~ Established 1875

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December 7, 2007

The CMFD C-Shift was alerted to a MVA with Rollover and possible entrapmetn at approx. 1000 hours. A full first alarm assignment was sounded bringing the off-duty and volunteer personnel from the CMFD and the USCGFD to the scene. Asst. Chief Alt (5902) of the USCGFD was the first officer on scene confirming a single vehicle MVA with a utility pole down. Witnesses on scene stated the vehicle rolled approx. four times before coming to rest against anothe utility pole. The vehicle operator was the only person in the vehicle and managed to free himself prior to the arrival of Fire/Rescue. The driver miraculously only had minor injuries and was transported by CMFD personnel to Cape Regional Medical Center. Fire Units secured power and stabalized the vehicle while PD did their investigation. Fire Personnel remained on scene until the utility companies secured the hazards from the downed pole.

August 24, 2007

The CMFD Duty Crew C-Shift was alerted at approx. 1353 hours of a report of smoke coming from a third floor apartment at 11 Decatur St. . CMFD Units along with the USCGFD Station 59 were on the initial Box for this alarm. Upon arrival of CMFD Units smoke was visible from the windows on the B/C corner of Division 3. A second alarm was sounded bringing the WCMVFC and CMPVFC to the scene, with the TBVFC Sta.61 as the R.I.C assignment. A quick and aggressive interior attack was made by CMFD personnel within minutes of dispatch. USCGFD Engine 5931 supplied CMFD Engine 5131 while two 1-3/4" hand lines were in service. One serving as the backup line manned by USCGFD personnel. CMFD Tower 5154 performed horizontal ventilation of the third floor windows of the fire room. While crews searched the floors above for fire extension. The fire is being investigated by the Cape May County Fire Marshals Office and is believed to have started in a window fan in the kitchen.

July 25,2007-

CMFD and USCGFD personnel were dispatched to Delaware and Buffalo Avenues for a car abandoned by a suspicious person with an unknown wrapped package in the vehicle.The vehicle was parked feet from the main gate to the U.S Coast Guard Training Center. The driver of the vehicle apparently parked the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. CMPD arrived on scene and noticed upon investigation of the vehicle an item that appeared to be a bottle wrapped in duct tape lying next to some wires and a DVD player. A perimeter was established and evacuations were made in the area including the Yacht Club which was holding a sailing class with approx 75 people, mainly children in attendance. The Cape May County CBRNE Agency, Cape May County Prosecuters Office, Cape May County Sheriffs Dept., and Atlantic City Bomb Squad were notified. The Bomb Squad Utilized their Robot to remove the package from the vehicle via remote control. The package was secured and deemed safe by the Bomb Squad after investigation. All Fire Units and PD units cleared the scene and allowed area residents to return home.

July 22,2007

At 10:12 AM the CMFD Duty Crew C-Shift was alerted to a SUV that crashed into a dwelling on Cape May Ave. Engine 5131, Heavy Rescue 5172, and Amb. 5196 responded. CMFD arrived on scene to find a SUV had been driven in reverse into the dwelling. The building sustained structural damage with the vehicle pinned on top of debris. Electricity was secured to the dwelling. The vehicle was secured and the area taped off to keep unauthorized personnel out of the scene. A hose line was deployed for suppression if needed. The vehicle was lifted via airbags and High Lift Jacks. Cribbing was used to stabilize the vehicle. The vehicle was removed from the building without incident. The Cape May Construction Official arrived on scene and condemned the building pending a further inspection.
Cape May Fire Units were back in service at approx. 11:45 AM.

July 7th,2007

The CMFD responded Ambulance 5196 to a report of a building collapse at Two Mile Crab House and restaurant. Initial reports from dispatch were of people trapped and missing. Erma Fire Chief Warner Muller who was in command of this incident called for multiple agencies, both Fire and Rescue to respond to the scene. The CMFD assisted with EMS at this incident along with multiple other EMS agencies.

May 30,2007

A busy few weeks for the Cape May Fire Dept. continued early Friday morning with a report of an unknown fire at the Cape May Public Works Yard. The past weeks have brought five 1 3/4" jobs for the CMFD with a fire in a void under a restaurant on the Washington St. Mall, a dumpster fire at the city yard, a brush fire, and a porch fire at a Victorian home on Columbia Ave., it was topped off by two fully-involved trailers which were used as animal shelters. The West Cape May Vol. Fire Co. received the initial dispatch and CMFD Engine 5131 arrived at the same time as WCMVFC Engine 5730. An exterior attack was mounted by both Departments and unfortunately the 30 cats in the trailers were lost due to the fire. The trailers were owned by the City of Cape May and the Animal Outreach of Cape May County. The CMFD and WCMVFC were assisted on scene by the CMPVFC and U.S.C.G Engine 5931 covered the city during this incident.

The order was given to fill the box with an island "all call", bringing the U.S. Coast Guard Fire Dept.'s (USCGFD) Engine 5931, West Cape May Volunteer Fire Co.'s (WCMVFC) Engine 5730 and Ladder 5755, and The Cape May Point Volunteer Fire Co.'s Engine 5831 to the scene along with the CMFD units.

An aggressive interior attack was made by the CMFD and the fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes. WCMVFC firefighters were sent to the roof for ventilation and the USCGFD was on a second handline, backing the interior crew.

A R.I.T. was set up on the exterior of the dwelling while the attack was being made. There were no injuries reported and the owner was not in the dwelling at the time of the fire. Units cleared the scene around 9 p.m. A Special Thanks to Drew King for his excellent pictures of this incident.

CMFD and USCG Fire Repond to Gas Main Fire

     CMFD units along with USCG Units were alerted to a ruptured gas main with fire. Fire Units arrived on scene and secured a water supply and deployed handlines to protect exposures. South Jersey Gas arrived on scene and began working to stop the leak and the fire. CMFD and USCG personnel stood by and protected the gas workers as they worked close to the fire. The line was secured approx. one hour after the initial dispatch and all CMFD and USCG Fire Units cleared the scene.

CMFD Assists on 10 Alarm Wildwood Fire

CMFD Engine 5131 along with 9 personnel were dispatched originally to cover the Borough of Wildwood Crest, but were quickly requested to the scene of the Shore Plaza Motel for a working fire.  The Shore Plaza Motel is located at 26th Avenue and the Boardwalk in Wildwood, and was also home to Sam's Pizza, Rita's Water Ice, and a boardwalk game venue.  The fire quickly grew to ten alarms and Wildwood City Fire Chief Conrad Johnson utilized equipment and personnel from surrounding departments to assist in battling this blaze.  CMFD personnel were on scene for approximately 9 hours before being cleared by Wildwood Fire Command.

In Memory of Sgt. William Alvarez, Cape May PD

Cape May Fire Department Career Firefighter / EMT's

CMFD, USCG, Townbank Battle Fire at Lobster House Restaurant

October 12 - On September 26 at approximately 03:00 hours the Cape May Fire Department duty crew A-Shift along with the US Coast Guard Station 59, and Townbank Fire Company were alerted to an activated alarm at the Lobster House restaurant.  The alarm was upgraded to a water flow alarm due to sprinkler activation and then again as a working structure fire.  USCG Assistant Chief was the first officer on the scene and confirmed the fire.  CMFD Engine 5131 was the first engine on the scene.  Engine 5131 established a water supply and began advancing hose lines to attack the fire.  USCG Engine 5932 arrived on scene next and assisted in the initial attack.

Townbank Fire Co. was the next in company and the CMFD and USCG were assisting Townbank Fire Co. on this fire since this structure is in an area of Lower Township that is protected by the Townbank Fire Co. Station 61.  A mutual aid agreement between the CMFD and USCG is in place to respond since the proximity of the area is closer to stations 51 and 59. 

Erma Fire Company Station 62 was called to the scene to establish another water supply and supply the engine from Townbank.  The Cape May County Fire Marshalls Office is investigating the fire, which they believe to have started in an exhaust fan on the second floor. 

Cape May FD Battles Bait & Tackle Shop Fire

August 31 - Cape May Fire Department Duty Crew C - Shift was alerted at approximately 03:45 for a reported structure fire at the Cape May Marina.  Cape May Police arrived on scene and confirmed the fire and stated the structure was fully involved.  Chief Inderweis Jr. (5100) arrived on scene and assumed command.  Engine 5131, Tower 5154, and ambulance 5197 responded from the CMFD.  An island All-Call was dispatched as per protocol for all of Cape Island for any confirmed structure fire, bringing apparatus from U.S. Coast Guard Station 59, West Cape May VFC Station 57, and Cape May Point VFC Station 58.  Cape May FD Volunteers arrived on scene to assist in the initial attack of the fire.  The fire was placed under control approximately 30 minutes into the incident.  The Cape May County Fire Marshals Office is investigating the fire and believes an electrical malfunction may have caused the blaze. 

Banner Plane Crashed in Water Off Cape May Beach

July 5 - A banner plane flying above the beaches of Cape May lost power and made an emergency landing in the water about 100 yards off Broadway Beach in Cape May.

Cape May Beach Patrol lifeguards were able to rescue the pilot of the plane who was uninjured by the crash and bring the pilot to the beach where the Cape May Fire Department personnel were awaiting him.  The pilot was transported to Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital and later released.  The initial report to the CMFD headquarters was that a plane had crashed on the beach in front of lifeguard headquarters.  Luckily the pilot was able to steer the plane into the water avoiding a mass casualty incident on the beach. 

Special thanks to Adam Gilson and the Cape May Star and Wave for photos of the incident.

Cape May Fire Department, Town Bank Fire Dive Team, and Cape May Point Fire Department Respond to Man Overboard off Cape May Point
 

May 6 - A 14 year old male passenger on a Whale and Dolphin Watching Vessel fell overboard on April 30th 2005 at approx 1330 hours.  A call was received by the CMFD via the direct line from the CMPD dispatcher stating a man fell overboard off of Cape MAy Point and was injured. The CMFD immediately called for assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard requesting their first response vessel along with Air Support from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Atlantic City. The Town Bank Vol. Fire Co.'s Dive Rescue Team was requested along with the Dive Rescue Team from the Fortescue Fire Co. in Cumberland County.  The Cape May Point Vol. Fire Co. was also summoned to assist in the land based rescue operations.

The land based command post was established at the Surf Ave. beach access in Cape May Point, with CMFD Chief Jerome Inderwies Jr. as the Incident Commander for the land based operations.  The CMFD Duty Crew ( C-Shift ) responded in full cold water rescue apparel to attempt an initial water rescue from the beach. The victim had not been seen for sometime by the passengers of the vessel, therefore entering the water blind was not an option by the first rescuers on scene.  The Town Bank Dive Team was established on the beach with their Dive Rescue Unit as the Command Vehicle. The Fortescue Dive Team also established themselves with TBVFD on the beach.

4x4 vehicles from the CMFD, TBVFC, CMPVFC, the NJ State Park Rangers, a pick-up owned by an off-duty FF/EMT from the CMFD (Alpha-3), and 3 ATV'S from members of the Erma and Green Creek Fire Co.'s patrolled the beaches and searched the jetties from the the Cold Spring Inlet to the U.S. Coast Guard Base Cape May. The search was called off at dusk and was to resume at 6AM the following morning.  The NJ State Marine Police along with the U.S. Coast Guard continued patrols of the water.

The CMFD would like to Thank all the agencies involved in the rescue/recovery effort as well as the WCMVFC and U.S. Coast Guard Fire Dept. for coverage of the city during the incident.  The CMFD asks that your prayers be with the victim and his family.
 

CMFD Participates In Cape Island Drill Hosted By Cape May Point Vol. Fire Co.#1

March 31 - The CMFD along with West Cape May Vol. Fire Co. and the U. S Coast Guard Fire Dept. participated in a drill in Cape May Point on a structure that is considered to be a high-risk life hazard. The drill was planned to address apparatus placement along with the ability to establish a plentiful water supply while large diameter hose lines are in use. Aerials from West Cape May Vol. Fire Co. and the CMFD were in service to determine efficient placement for suppression of such a large building. The Chiefs of all four Fire Dept.'s deemed the drill a great success with valuable information gathered. Special Thanks to the Cape May Point Vol. Fire Co. #1 for setting up the drill and allowing the Island Fire Depts. to work together for the betterment of the Cape Islands different municipalities.

CMFD Trains for Ice Rescue Emergencies

February 18 - Members of the CMFD conducted Ice Rescue Training in January. The CMFD in conjunction with the Dive Rescue Team from the Townbank Fire Company (Station 61) is trained and prepared for handling Ice Rescue Emergencies.
 

Cape May and US Coast Guard Firefighters Conduct WMD Training

A Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness and Operations course was held at Station 51 on December 13 and 14, 2004.  Firefighters from Station 51 and Station 59 participated in the course which was instructed by Mike Stork from ETC.  The course consisted of hands on training as well as quality classroom training and was well received by the attendees. 

CMFD and USCGFD Battle Fire in Coast Guard Housing Complex

At 1456 hrs on November 18, 2004 a fire broke out in a bedroom of the home at 1711 C Pennsylvania Avenue.  The unit used to house United States Coast Guard Personnel.  CMFD Engine 5131 and USCGFD Engine 5932 arrived almost simultaneously and began an aggressive attack on the fire.  The West Cape May Fire Company was dispatched to cover the City of Cape May while CMFD crews battled the fire.  Tower 5154 saw its first action as it was used to assist personnel in overhaul of the eaves of the structure.  The fire was contained to the bedroom of origin and no injuries were reported.  Fire personnel were able to rescue a dog that was trapped in the structure in its cage.  CMFD units cleared the scene at approximately 17:00 hours, releasing the scene to USCGFD command.