Mission Statement:

     The mission of the Mantua Township Fire District No. 1 is to serve our community when an emergency occurs. We will respond safely and quickly with trained, skilled, and compassionate members, using the best available equipment to neutralize or reverse any situation.  We will continue aggressive planning and response preparation, and will strive to prevent the need for our emergency services through education and community interaction. Our services shall be delivered by a dedicated family of members committed to exceeding the needs and expectations of those we serve anytime, anyplace, any need.  

     On Wednesday, April 9, 2014 members of the Mantua Township Fire District were dispatched to Peach Country Ford at 749 Mullica Hill Road for a reported Commercial Vehicle Fire.  Engine Company 2212 and Tender 2214 responded immediately with a combined crew of 6 and were advised by Gloucester County Communications that they were receiving numerous calls for a working fire. 

     Engine Company 2212 arrived and reported a large commercial vehicle with an engine and passenger compartment involvement.  Crews stretched a single 1 3/4" hand line off the front of Engine 2212 and made a quick knock on the fire salvaging approximately 100,000 yards of fresh mulch, which surrounding the blazing vehicle.  Once the fire was extinguished, the scene was turned over to the owners of Peach Country Ford and units were released without incident.

Units on location:  Engine Companies 2212 and 2213, Tender 2214, and Command 2220.

     On Tuesday, April 1, 2014 Chief Brian Hauss and Firefighters Shawn Layton and Victor Torino traveled to the City of Boston, to pay tribute to two fallen heroes.  Members attended the wake of Lieutenant Edward Walsh on Tuesday Evening and the wake of Firefighter Michael Kennedy on Wednesday Evening. 

Lt. Walsh and FF Kennedy perished while operating on Box 1579 at 298 Beacon Street in the City of Boston.  Both were members of Engine Company 33 in the Back Bay Section of the city.  The members of the Mantua Township Fire District would like to extend our deepest regrets to the loss of two true American Heroes. 

     On Friday, February 28, 2014 at 2217 hours members of the Mantua Township Fire District were dispatched to 17 Clinton Avenue for a reported motor vehicle crash.  Squad Company 2218 and Engine Company 2213 responded immediately with a combined crew of 7 personnel.  While en route companies were advised that police were on location with a car into a house, with damage to the natural gas meter and a large consentration of fumes in the area. 

     Crews arrived to find a single vehicle MVC into a house.  Crews observed severe structural damage to the C/D corner of the residence with damage to the natural gas meter.  Engine Company 2213 secured the utility while command contacted SJ Gas, which responded and removed the meter.  Crews checked for further leaks inside of the residence with meters, which revealed negative results.  Command requested MUA to respond to secure water to the property while crews stood by for the vehicle to be removed by the tow company.  The dwelling was turned back over to the resident for board up services. 

Units on location: FI 2210, Engine Company 2213, Squad Company 2218 and BLS 8265

On Thursday, February 20, 2014, Captain Matthew Heston was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Mantua Township Fire District.  Deputy Chief Heston was sworn into service by Chairman Vacarino in front of a packed house of friends and family during the Fire Commission Regular Meeting. 

     The members would like to congratulate Deputy Chief Heston on his promotion and wish him further success as he is an extreme asset to the Fire District.

Photos Courtesy of Sidney Marks

     On February 09, 2014 at 1438 hours members of the Mantua Township Fire District and Pitman Fire Company No. 1 were dispatched to 1059 Tristram Circle for a reported dwelling fire.  Engine Company 2212 and Squad Company 2218 responded simultaneously with a combined crew of eight personnel.  While enroute to the scene, Captain N. Lamana (FM22) arrived on scene with a 2 1/2 story multi family dwelling with smoke showing from Division "2," at which time he requested the second alarm. 

     Captain Lamana ordered Engine Company 2212 to assume the first due responsibilities and lay into the scene and stretch the 300' cross lay to the rear of the building.  The crews from 2212 and 2218 stretched a single 1 3/4" handline into the dwelling to find heavy fire conditions in the loft of the condo.  Crews made an extremely quick knock down, holding the fire to the room of origin.  While operating in the dwelling the crew from Quint 2816 performed vertical ventilation over the fire room, while the crews from Engine Companies 2213 and 2832 threw ground ladders to all divisions and secured utilities. 

     Once the fire was brought under control crews performed salvage and overhaul of all adjoining residences at which time FM 22 began his investigation.  There were no injuries reported and the fire remains under investigation by the Mantua Township Fire Marshal's Office.

Units on Location: FM 22, Engine Companies 2213, 2213, and 2832 Squad Company 2218, Quint 2816, Tender 2214, Utility 2217 and RIC's 1038 and 516.

     On Thursday, January 16, 2014 Fire Marshal Anthony Lamana was promoted to career Captain of the Mantua Township Fire District.  Captain Lamana was sworn into service by Chairman Vacarino in front of a packed house of friends and family during the Fire Commission Regular Meeting. 

     Captain Lamana will take on various roles in his new position and will continue to be an asset to the members of the fire district.  The members would like to congratulate Captain Lamana on his promotion and wish him further success in his very prosperous career.

Photos Courtesy of IAFF Vice President Con Sympsomos

On Sunday, January 12, 2014 members of the Mantua Township Fire District were dispatched to 212 N. Broadway in the Borough of Pitman for a reported Structure Fire. Squad Company 2218 responded immediately with a crew of six as the Rapid Intervention Company. Chief 2800 arrived on scene and reported a detached structure well involved with extension into an adjacent structure. The crew from Squad Company 2218 arrived and was put into service as the RIC in Division A. Crews set up a safe zone and assured that all companies operated safely on the foreground until released by command.

On Tuesday, January 7th and Wednesday January 8, 2014 the members of the Mantua Township Fire District remained very busy during the single digit temperatures. On Tuesday, companies responded as the RIC on a working dwelling fire in the Borough of Pitman. Crews operated on scene for approximately 45 minutes with no injuries reported.

     After clearing from District 28 members of District 22 and Quint 2816 were dispatched to 28 Susies Hollow for a reported dwelling fire. Chief 2201 arrived to find an active fire on the Division "D" exterior wall. Engine Company 2213 arrived as the first due company and was advised to stretch a dry line and begin checking for extension. Quint 2816 arrived second due and began ventilation and overhaul of the affected area. The fire was quickly extinguished and damage was very limited. The fire remains under investigation by the Mantua Township Fire Marshal's Office. Following the reported Dwelling fire, companies handled an Automatic Fire Alarm in the Villiages of Berkley development, which was found to be a malfunctioning alarm.

     On Wednesday, January 8th crews responded to four Automatic Alarms in the White Oaks Development, all caused by broken sprinkler pipes. It was determined that exterior sprinkler pipes had cracked causing flooding in 12 separate apartments. Crews assisted homeowners with dewatering of their residences and securing utilities. It should be noted that all incidents were handled in approximately 4 degree temperatures. We would like to thank the members that assisted in handling all of these major assignments.

On Monday, January 6, 2014 at 0755 hours members of the Mantua Township Fire District and Pitman Fire Company No. 1 were dispatched to 376 Bridgeton Pike for a reported dwelling fire. BLS 82-65 quickly arrived and reported a one story single family dwelling with heavy smoke showing. At that time the Second Alarm was requested by Chief 2201. Engine Company 2213 responded quickly with limited staffing and arrived to confirm the report. Engine Company 2213 stretched a single 1 3/4" hand line through the front door to find an active fire in the basement. Engine Company 2212 arrived as the second due company and laid a supply line from the scene to Monroe Avenue and Bridgeton Pike.

     Crews from Engine Company 2213 and 2212 found the seat of the fire in a basement bedroom and made a quick knock on the blaze. Quint 2816 arrived and performed ventilation, while the crews from Engine 2832 and Ladder 516 performed a secondary search and began checking for extension. Ladder 2316 was called to the scene to replace 516's crew as a Rapid Intervention Crew assisted by Rescue Company 1038. The fire was quickly brought under control and crews performed salvage and overhaul limiting the damage to the basement of the residence.

     There were no injuries reported and the fire is currently under investigation by Captain Lamana of the Mantua Township Fire Marshal's Office.

Units on location: Engine Companies 2212, 2213, and 2832, Ladder Companies 2816, 516, and 926, RICs 1038, 1032 and 2316 as well as BLS 8265 and 8266.

Photos Courtesy of William Rieger of Newjerseyfireground.com

     On Saturday, November 16, 2013 members of the Mantua Township Fire District along with the Gloucester County Neptune Task Force conducted a joint training exercise with mulitple Camden County Fire Departments Saturday morning at the Port of Camden. The Neptune water delivery system was supplemented by Camden City's Fire Boat 1 as well as two five inch strike teams to achive maximum water flow capacity. The unit was able to flow approximately 10,000 gallons per minute through the 12" water lines and out of the Iron Man gun located at the end of the old Del monte pier. Numerous local, county, and state officials were on hand to see the Neptune systems capabilties for provinding high volume water delivery for fire suppression, and other emergency incidents. 

     On Monday, October 28, 2013 at 1457 hours members of the Glassboro Fire Department and Harrison Township Fire District were dispatched to Route 55 in the area of Exit 50 for a reported vehicle fire.  Prior to arrival Chief 2600 reported the vehicle to be in the Southbound lanes north of Exit 50 and requested a response from station 22-1. 

     Chief 2201 arrived moments later reporting a working car fire.  Chief 2201 made a quick knockdown of the fire and requested Engine 2611 proceed to the scene to extiguish the remainder of the fire.  The fire was quickly knocked down salvaging the vehicle.  Once the fire was brought under control, all companies were released by NJSP and NJ DOT.  No further action taken. 

  On Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 1946 hours members of the Mantua Township Fire District along with Quint 2816 were dispatched to 501 Mantua Boulevard, D'Agostini's Liquor Store, for a reported building fire.  Chief 2201 responded and was immediately advised by Gloucester County Communications that they were recieving numerous reports of smoke coming from the building.  At that time Chief 2201 requested the All-Hands brining in the second alarm companies. 

     Engine Company 2212 responded quickly with a crew of four and arrived first due reporting heavy smoke showing.  Engine Company 2212 established their own water supply and stretched a single 2 1/2" hand line through the front door of the building.  Crew from Engine Company 2212 located heavy fire conditions in the D-Side of the show room.

     While crews were on the interior crews from Engine Company 2213 and Quint 2816, and Squad Company  2218 began to perform outside ventilation opening the roof and assisting the crew from 2212.  The fire was quickly brought under control at which time all units performed salvage and overhaul tactics to help protect the remainder of the property. 

     Once units were clear from the interior the scene was turned over to the Mantua Township Fire Marshal's Office for investigations.  The fire was brought under control within in 20 minutes from time of dispatch and all units remained on scene for approximatley 2 hours assisting with the investigation.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Mantua Township Fire Marshal's Office.

Units on location:  Engine Companies 2212, 2213, and 2832, Squad Company 2218, Quint 2816, Tender 2214, Brush 2215, Utilites 2217 and Car 22 as well as RIC 516 and RIC 1038 along with BLS 8265.

     The members of the Mantua Township Fire District would like to extend our sincere condolences to the members of the Pitman Fire Department as well as the Gresko Family.

     Chief Anthony Gresko served his community as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Pitman Fire Company No. 1 where he served as Chief for ten years and Chief of the Borough of Pitman for ten years.  He was prominent figure within the township and all around mentor to all of the members of the Pitman Fire Department as well as firefighters throughout Gloucester County.  Chief Gresko was a good fireman and a good friend to the Mantua Township Fire District and he will be deeply missed. 

Visitations were set from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, and 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the Kelley Funeral Home, 125 Pitman Ave., Pitman, before a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Friday at Mater Ecclesiae Church, 261 Cross Keys Rd., Berlin.

Donations may be made to the Crozer-Keystone Burn Foundation, Lewis House, 1 Medical Center Blvd., Upland, Pa. 19013.

Come support the Gloucester County Professional Firefighters Union Local 3592 as they raise money for breast cancer. This fun filled night will consist of members from the Mantua Township Police Department facing off with members from the Mantua Township Fire Department in a lemon squeezing competition at Chickfila in the Mantua Square. Please come out and show your support, and don't forget to mention that you are there for "spirit night" or present this flyer to the cashier to make sure Local 3592 gets credit in their fundraiser for breast cancer!