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The City Of Hackensack Fire Department was established April 1st, 1871. It has its origins
going back to March 11, 1864. That evening a meeting of all citizens was held for the
purpose of devising measures to protect the village from fires. Two weeks later, on March
25, 1864, it was reported that the village commission had no power to raise money by
taxation for fire apparatus of any kind, but suggested that the fire committee try to raise
$500.00 by voluntary subscription to purchase hooks, ladders and buckets. Thus the
Hackensack Fire Department was born.
In 1911 the necessitation for a full time fire department was recognized and on May 11th of
that year, an ordinance was passed by the Hackensack Development Commission creating
such a department. They worked 11 days straight and then had 24 hours off. They were
allowed to leave three times a day for one hour for meals. They slept upstairs in the Mercer
St. firehouse and were still on call on their 12th day.
The introduction of paid men began the end of the volunteer days and on December 15,
1914 the Commission created a full paid and part-paid fire department. The volunteers,
who had served for 43 years, were dissolved on that same evening. The men at that time
worked 72 hours on and 24 hours off. This was a one platoon system which stayed in effect
until 1928, when a second platoon was formed by voter referendum. This meant an 84 hour
average work week consisting of alternating 72 and 96 hour weeks. In 1933 the part paid
members were replaced by full time firemen. In 1947 there was again a referendum to
reduce the work week from 84 hours to 67 hours but it was defeated, and instead a 70 hour
week was instituted in 1949. In 1964 there was another referendum and the firefighters won
a 42 hour work week.
The demand for the fire department services in this community has climbed steadily every
year. 34 years ago, in 1974, the department had 1415 runs, and had 119 firefighters. In
2007 the department responded to 5349 calls for help, and had 99 firefighters. This
tremendous increase in call volume is due to the increased rescue and EMS demands on the
Fire Department, as the department responds to all life threatening medical emergencies, in
addition to fire suppression, and other responsibilities.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th,2001, there has been a huge increase in the
level of training done by the Hackensack Fire Department. These programs are largely paid
for via grant monies available thru federal programs. These have been aggressively sought
out and awarded to us, with specialized equipment for the Special Operations teams being
purchased, at little cost to the city taxpayers. In 2003 a new program was established called
the Urban Area Security Initiative. The Hackensack Fire Department was selected as the
agency responsible for Bergen County. A new rescue truck and air cascade truck were
purchased by the state and federal governments for this program, using no local taxpayer
dollars. Approximately $2million dollars of equipment was purchased for these units, again
at no local taxpayer expense. Just about all the members of the Fire Department have
undergone many hours of training in structural collapse rescue, high angle rescue, hazardous
materials, trench rescue, and many other disciplines, once again, at no local taxpayer
expense.
In 2007 we were awarded a $257,000 grant to purchase new Scott Airpaks. This was a
welcome grant to pay for replacement of our 10 year old Airpaks, most of which have seen
better days. Also, in early 2007 we were awarded a Federal grant called a SAFER award.
This stands for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response. Our award was one of
the largest given out by the federal government in 2007. We were awarded $1,059,650.00
for 12 new firemen. We are hopeful that the city government will act on this award quickly,
because if it is not accepted very soon, the city will lose this grant of over 1 million dollars.
going back to March 11, 1864. That evening a meeting of all citizens was held for the
purpose of devising measures to protect the village from fires. Two weeks later, on March
25, 1864, it was reported that the village commission had no power to raise money by
taxation for fire apparatus of any kind, but suggested that the fire committee try to raise
$500.00 by voluntary subscription to purchase hooks, ladders and buckets. Thus the
Hackensack Fire Department was born.
In 1911 the necessitation for a full time fire department was recognized and on May 11th of
that year, an ordinance was passed by the Hackensack Development Commission creating
such a department. They worked 11 days straight and then had 24 hours off. They were
allowed to leave three times a day for one hour for meals. They slept upstairs in the Mercer
St. firehouse and were still on call on their 12th day.
The introduction of paid men began the end of the volunteer days and on December 15,
1914 the Commission created a full paid and part-paid fire department. The volunteers,
who had served for 43 years, were dissolved on that same evening. The men at that time
worked 72 hours on and 24 hours off. This was a one platoon system which stayed in effect
until 1928, when a second platoon was formed by voter referendum. This meant an 84 hour
average work week consisting of alternating 72 and 96 hour weeks. In 1933 the part paid
members were replaced by full time firemen. In 1947 there was again a referendum to
reduce the work week from 84 hours to 67 hours but it was defeated, and instead a 70 hour
week was instituted in 1949. In 1964 there was another referendum and the firefighters won
a 42 hour work week.
The demand for the fire department services in this community has climbed steadily every
year. 34 years ago, in 1974, the department had 1415 runs, and had 119 firefighters. In
2007 the department responded to 5349 calls for help, and had 99 firefighters. This
tremendous increase in call volume is due to the increased rescue and EMS demands on the
Fire Department, as the department responds to all life threatening medical emergencies, in
addition to fire suppression, and other responsibilities.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th,2001, there has been a huge increase in the
level of training done by the Hackensack Fire Department. These programs are largely paid
for via grant monies available thru federal programs. These have been aggressively sought
out and awarded to us, with specialized equipment for the Special Operations teams being
purchased, at little cost to the city taxpayers. In 2003 a new program was established called
the Urban Area Security Initiative. The Hackensack Fire Department was selected as the
agency responsible for Bergen County. A new rescue truck and air cascade truck were
purchased by the state and federal governments for this program, using no local taxpayer
dollars. Approximately $2million dollars of equipment was purchased for these units, again
at no local taxpayer expense. Just about all the members of the Fire Department have
undergone many hours of training in structural collapse rescue, high angle rescue, hazardous
materials, trench rescue, and many other disciplines, once again, at no local taxpayer
expense.
In 2007 we were awarded a $257,000 grant to purchase new Scott Airpaks. This was a
welcome grant to pay for replacement of our 10 year old Airpaks, most of which have seen
better days. Also, in early 2007 we were awarded a Federal grant called a SAFER award.
This stands for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response. Our award was one of
the largest given out by the federal government in 2007. We were awarded $1,059,650.00
for 12 new firemen. We are hopeful that the city government will act on this award quickly,
because if it is not accepted very soon, the city will lose this grant of over 1 million dollars.
| The History of the Hackensack Fire Dept. |
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