Over the last two weeks, FF/EMT Ryan Clancy, FF/EMT Wesley Hockin, FF/EMT Jeff Underhill and EMT Christian Meyer attended the Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations class at the Hunterdon County Emergency Services Training Center.   

Topics these four volunteer members of our rescue company covered included knots, anchoring systems, mechanical advantages, belaying, and many other important skills.  The course runs for 32 hours and includes classroom, hands on time at the Training Center, as well as time

For more information about becoming a volunteer rescue company member, please check out our website: https://www.clintonems.org/about-us.html  (Photo Credits: FRFARS Facebook with our thanks)

Hunterdon County Democrat - Community Bulletin - Posted Jul 12, 2019

The Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force held a grain bin rescue drill on Wednesday, July 10, for a new specialized piece of equipment it was recently awarded.

The task force received a Grain Rescue Tube and training in its use as part of Grain Bin Safety Week from the Peosta, Iowa-based National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

Flemington-Raritan First Aid Rescue Squad chief Tom Hoffman said the county’s rescue task force was able to obtain the rescue tube the through a grant facilitated by the Nationwide Insurance Co.

Last night, the Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad's Rescue Division attended a course at the Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad as part of the Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force.  The drill focused on grain bin safety and rescue. With a number of working farms still active in and around Hunterdon County, the need for efficient rescue procedures for grain bin emergencies remains important. Additionally, many of the skills applicable for grain bins can be applied to similar storage vessels in industrial settings. The HCTRTF is an "all hazards" technical rescue team comprised of the Flemington - Raritan FARS, Clinton FARS, Whitehouse FARS, Lambertville FD, and Hunterdon County Emergency Management.

Flemington's Rescue Squad Chief Tom Hoffman applied for a grant through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety earlier this spring, and the HCTRTF was selected to receive both training and equipment. The NECAS brought a mobile grain bin simulator to Flemington's station from Iowa last night. After a classroom session from NECAS Director Dan Neenan and dinner provided by the Squad, all HCTRTF personnel went outside and had the opportunity to practice techniques using a grain shield and rescue auger to remove grain from around the patient. Personnel played the role of the engulfed patient, gaining an appreciation of how easy it is to become trapped in flowing grain. Personnel also used various cutting tools to practice cutting the metal sheets that make up a grain bin, in the event that product needs to be released in a rapid but controlled fashion to free a patient completely buried in the grain.

Over 100 bushels of wheat were provided by the Zeng Farm in Raritan Township for use in the grain bin simulator. Without their assistance, the training would not have been possible.

Upon completion of the training, the HCTRTF was given the grain shield system, called "The Great Wall of Rescue" used in the program. It will be carried on a Clinton FARS rescue unit, available county-wide (and beyond) when needed through the HCTRTF.  The agencies will be looking for additional funding to purchase a JPZ Rescue Auger (retail: $795) demonstrated during the training, which works much faster than manual shoveling within the tube.  
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The Training Never Ends!

​The Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force (HCTRTF) held its quarterly exercise today on the 25-acre Windy Acres Park in Clinton Township this morning, with a scenario that tested multiple disciplines. The drill, led this quarter by member agency the Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad, was made possible by the Clinton Township Committee and Department of Public Works.  

At just after 8am, the HCTRTF members gathered and were dispatched to a report of a car vs structure, with possible entrapment and collapse.  Units from the member agencies of the Task Force began to arrive and command was established by Clinton Rescue's Deputy Chief of Rescue, who reported a car vs house, car into the basement with 3 entrapped, and a boat they were towing had become dislodged and entrapped a worked in a trench that was open for septic work.  Luckily this was all just a drill.  

CFARS responded Heavy Rescue 455, Rescue 455, 3 BLS units, with 22 members, in addition to staffing the first 2 BLS units from our Hampton Ambulance and High Bridge Emergency Squad Ambulance partnerships.

Other responding units included the High Bridge, Clinton Township & Lebanon Township Police Departments, High Bridge, Lebanon Township and Clinton Township fire departments, Hunterdon Medical Center's MICU, NorthStar Air Medical Helicopter, Atlantic Air 1, the Hunterdon County Hazmat Response Team and Department of Public Safety, Superior Towing, JCP&L, Atlantic Ambulance and the NJSP/NJDOT Traffic Diversion Team. 

By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
A tractor-trailer struck two vehicles before overturning and slamming into two more cars Monday evening along Route 31, leaving four people hurt, officials said.

All of the injured are expected to survive, including two people who were flown to Morristown Medical Center according to Paul Approvato, the deputy chief of detectives for the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office.

The truck was traveling south on Route 31 near Cregar Road in Lebanon Township around 5:30 p.m. when it hit two vehicles, turned on its side, slid into the northbound lane and collided with two other vehicles, the prosecutor’s office said. Two people were taken by ambulance to Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township.

The truck was carrying “gray water” - waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances, Approvato said. The road was closed until around midnight for the investigation. JCP&L also repaired a power line damaged in the crash.
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No charges have been filed and the crash remains under investigation, Approvato said.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Earlier this evening our Rescue Services unit was requested to assist mutual aid at a Tractor Trailer vs Tractor Trailer accident on Route 78 West at exit 11 in Union Township, Hunterdon County.   A BLS from Pattenburg Rescue Squad and Squad 25 from Pattenburg Fire were on scene with one driver injured, unable to get out of the vehicle. 

Just around 4pm Heavy Rescue 455 was requested by command to assist with the driver of the tractor trailer who was entrapped by the dashboard pinning the drivers legs in the remaining portion of the cab. 

Heavy Rescue 455 went responding almost immediately upon dispatch with 6 volunteer rescue members, followed moments later with another 5 rescue personnel on Rescue 455.  The 11 CFARS members worked seamlessly with the requesting agencies to complete a complex extrication of this driver.    An additional 3 rescue volunteers stood by the building to cover additional calls.  

Once the driver was disentangled from his rig, he was turned over to the BLS unit and Paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center​ for treatment and was further transferred to the flight team of NorthSTAR Air Medical Helicopter​ for transport to a trauma center. 

The seamless operation between mutual aide departments is a testament to the regional mutual aide system built over the years.  Our teams worked in tandem to get this mission accomplished in a timely and safe manner.   We wish a speedy recovery to all involved.  

If you would like more information on how to join or Rescue or EMS team please visit www.ClintonEMS.org for volunteer opportunities.

Photos from: Pattenburg Fire Company

​North Hunterdon Fire Alliance - Squad 51 held an open house on Friday at the Clinton Fire Department's firehouse.
First responders from the following departments attended:

• Clinton Fire Department
• Clinton First Aid and Rescue Squad
• Annandale Hose Company - Township of Clinton Division of Fire
• Lebanon Borough Fire Company
• High Bridge Fire Department
• Quakertown Fire Company in Franklin Township
• Clinton Police Department

The open house was held the same evening of Clinton Fire Department's Friday night grill night fundraiser. Firefighters cooked hamburgers, hot dogs, clams, Jersey burgers and cheese steaks.

There was a Clinton Police car, firetrucks and rescue trucks on display and open for kids to be able to sit in the driver's seats.
There were live demonstrations involving stove, grill, and grease fires and how to handle these situations at home, while Clinton's fire marshal had hands-on demonstrations using fire extinguishers and the Clinton Rescue Squad did a live vehicle extrication demonstration.

Annandale Fire Company had its Smoke Trailer for people to see what it is like when a room fills with smoke, and how to safely exit the building.
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The New Jersey State Police NorthStar medivac helicopter also did a flyover.

Hunterdon County Democrat
Posted Jun 18
By: Community Bulletin
https://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2018/06/north_hunterdon_fire_alliance_holds_open_house.html#incart_river_index

Clinton, NJ (May, 2018) – If you remember the story “1994 Pierce Saber Rescue Finds New Temporary Home in Clinton” (story number 0319171110) back in March of 2017, well the new and improved Heavy Rescue 455 is finally here. The Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad took delivery of their custom built 2018 Pierce Velocity® tandem axle Heavy Duty Rescue truck on Tuesday evening, May 8th, placing it in service on Memorial Day Weekend.

The rig is built on an 8420 Velocity® Chassis with a 26-foot-long, 11 foot 1 inch high, walk-in heavy-duty rescue body, it is powered by a Cummins ISX15 600 horsepower diesel engine connected to an Allison 4000EVS automatic transmission. Some of the safety features the rig is equipped with are a TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension system, side roll protection system airbags, frontal airbags, and an electronic stability control system. ​