Hackensack NJ Fire Dept.

The Hackensack NJ Fire Dept. is busiest dept in Bergen County, Hackensack is also the county seat. The department is comprised of 99 career firefighters consisting of the Chief of Dept, Deputy Chief of Operations, Deputy Chief of Safety and Training, 1 Lieutenant assigned to education and public information, 1 Captain and 3 firefighters assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau and the line staff comprised of 4 platoons working 24 hour shifts and manning 4 engine co's, 1 ladder co and 1 heavy rescue under the command of a deputy chief with 23 officers and firefighters per platoon. There are a total of 4 firehouses strategically located thru-out the city, Headquarters is home to all administration offices as well as the communications division made up of 7 civilian 911 certified communications operators, the Deputy Chief (tour commander) E-4, L-1 and R-1, also housed at headquarters is MSU-1 (which is manned only when needed) reserve E-3, reserve L-2, reserve R-2, spare E-6, the special operations truck and trailer. The other 3 firehouses house E-1, E-2 and E-5. All co's are staffed with a minimum of 1 officer and 2 FF's with the exception of R-1 who's minimum staffing is 1 officer and 1 FF, each co is assigned 1 Captain (the company commander) and 3 lieutenants with the exception of E-4 which is assigned 4 captain's. The department is 1 of 9 in the northern part of the state which participates in the homeland "Urban Area Security Initiative" which falls under NJTF-1, the states urban search and rescue team, approximately 45 officers and firefighters and trained to respond to major building collapses, trench rescues, confined space rescues, natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The response area of the dept is approximately 4-1/2 square miles and comprises a major hospital/trauma center, 1 college, 1 large covered mall, numerous high rise buildings - both residential and commercial/office, several public housing complexes, 3 major highways, 2 rail lines (1 transit and 1 freight), several large industrial areas as well as numerous residential structures and the Hackensack River on the east side of the city. The dept averages almost 6000 runs annually.