The Surf City Volunteer Fire Company and EMS is temporarily out of service after a serious fire occurred in the apparatus bay late Thursday night, TheSandPaper.net reported. One firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor injury.

A firefighter heard the fire siren send out a steady blast, a programmed indicator that the alarm inside the firehouse is activated, according to Surf City fire officials in a post on social media informing the community that Ship Bottom and High Point volunteer fire companies would be covering for the fire department. The Barnegat Light Volunteer First Squad will answer emergency medical services calls.

When the firefighter arrived at the firehouse from home, he discovered heavy smoke and flames inside the apparatus bay and called 911. Surf City firefighters, as they arrived at the scene, used fire extinguishers from other parts of the building to hold off the fire, while other volunteers moved the fire trucks and other apparatus out of the firehouse. Engine 4913 put down the rest of the fire with tank water.

The Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office responded, protocol for all types of fires, according to fire officials in Surf City. They will determine exactly where and how the fire began. A preliminary determination by fire marshals on the scene found the fire to be accidental and caused by malfunctioning electrical equipment.

“We would like to give a huge thank you to our mutual aid Fire and EMS organizations that responded and assisted us tonight. We will be back up and running very soon,” fire officials said.

Live-Fire Training Paul Tarter

It’s wish season. Fire departments everywhere are preparing for the season, hopeful and listing everything needed.

More than likely as you’re reading this, it’s in the middle of the application period for the U.S. Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program. For many fire departments, the grant application process is daunting, with lots of data that needs to be collected and questions that need answering. Even after the process, no guarantee exists to ensure that your fire department will be awarded anything.

Before stepping into the grant process, consider these three important factors:

• Is your department currently using outdated equipment beyond the expected life cycle?
• Does your department have a compelling story that will explain why certain equipment is needed?
• Is the request you’re making reasonable?

While there’s a significant amount more to a grant application process, these three factors can be the difference between getting grants and missing out.

Outdated Equipment

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers a variety of standards for firefighter equipment. Updated on a regular basis, these standards often provide guidelines for how long equipment lasts.

For example, the life cycle of turnouts is eight years, while a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and cylinder have an expected life of 15 years. Not sure how old your equipment is? The approval labels on the equipment can provide the required information for determining its age.

A side note: If it appears your equipment isn’t lasting that long, questions will arise about proper maintenance as required by the standards. Making sure your department follows regular maintenance schedules with a compliant or certified provider is imperative.

In general, if equipment is outdated—after the expected life cycle, say 20-year-old SCBA or 13-year-old turnouts—that application moves toward the top of the pile if everything else is in order.

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