Although we're not necessarily asked these questions very often, the following is a list of questions you may ask, if you had the opportunity and the interest...
Emergency Operations:
How many firefighters are active in your company?
The hydrant near my house is broken, who do I call?
Who do I call if I have an emergency?
I called for the Fire Department, why did I reach the Police Station?
What kind of training do you have?
Why did a fire truck show up after I had a minor fender bender crash?
What is your typical response time to an emergency?
How many emergencies do you routinely handle?
Who runs the emergency medical service (ambulances) in Warren?
Why did the police come when my fire alarm went off?
You have a fire hose blocking off my street, can I drive over it?
Do I have to pull over for flashing blue/red lights on the dash of a personal vehicle?
What is that siren I hear every Saturday at noon?
Why do you insist on using your truck's siren at three o'clock in the morning?
If I have a fire, who responds?
I had a fire in my kitchen, why did you cut a hole in my roof?
How do I un-call the Fire Department if I realize my alarm was false and there's no fire?
Non-Emergency Operations:
How do I reach you during times of non-emergency?
Do you fill pools?
Why did I see your truck on the road outside of Warren?
Didn't I see you driving around with Santa Claus this past December?
My Scout group would like to visit the fire station, how do I arrange that?
Who is responsible for enforcing fire codes in Warren?
Fundraising and Money:
Where do my donations go?
Why should I donate when I already support you through taxes?
How much do I save as a tax payer by having a volunteer fire force?
How much does a fire truck cost?
Why am I charged for mandatory fire inspections? (businesses)
I'm cleaning out my rec-room, would you like me to donate my old furniture or TV?
Do you accept donated old cars for rescue training?
Which Fire Company should I donate to?
Who pays for the fuel in the fire trucks?
All those fire houses in Warren... you're all the same, right?
Miscellaneous :
Why is the fire truck always left running whens its outside?
Why are some fire trucks not red?
Fire Safety:
How often should I clean my chimney?
Do you offer fire safety handouts and tip sheets?
Where should I place smoke detectors in my house?
Emergency Operations:
How many firefighters are active in your company?
We currently operate with about 15 active firefighters
The hydrant near my house is broken, who do I call?
The water company is responsible for street-side fire hydrant installation and maintenance. If you suspect a hydrant is broken, call the Warren Police (908.753.1000) at once to report the issue. They will notify New Jersey American Water for repairs and alert us to the outage.
Who do I call if I have an emergency?
911. In Warren Township, 911 is set up for all types of emergencies including police, fire and ambulance. If using a cell phone, be prepared to tell the dispatcher what town you are in - as you will reach a central statewide dispatch center.
I called for the Fire Department, why did I reach the Police Station?
The Warren Police Dept. handles all emergency dispatching in the Township. We communicate directly with them via radio pagers.
What kind of training do you have?
All firefighters are trained to a minimum standard set forth by the State of New Jersey. In addition, we practice firefighting operations routinely. See the Training (link) page for details.
Why did a fire truck show up after I had a minor fender bender crash?
Our policy is to send a fire truck for every crash involving a rolled over vehicle, a person trapped in a vehicle, a fluid spill or, of course, a fire. We also roll fire trucks to every crash on I-78 regardless of the severity. Sometimes a call comes in and sounds more severe than it really is - i.e. suspected rollover or possible entrapment.
What is your typical response time to an emergency?
Volunteers inherently take longer to respond to emergencies than full-time staffed fire stations. After notification, we first respond to our station, then to the scene. We are currently compiling statistical data and will publish response times as soon as they are available.
How many emergencies do you routinely handle?
Every year the number increases. In 2006 we responded to approximately 360 emergent alarms.
Who runs the emergency medical service (ambulances) in Warren?
The Warren Rescue Squad (volunteer) provides emergency ambulance response and transport. They do not charge their patients and they operate entirely on donations. The Squad is supplemented by Atlantic Health Ambulance (Overlook and Morristown hospitals) during the daytime. This is a paid service from whom you will receive a bill after transport. See the Squad's website (http://www.warrenrescuesquad.org) for more information.
Why did the police come when my fire alarm went off?
The Warren Police respond to all fire calls in the Township if they are available. Since they are on the road at all hours, they nearly always arrive on scene before the Fire Department. They assess the situation and report to us through our common dispatch center.
You have a fire hose blocking off my street, can I drive over it?
You are allowed to drive over a hose-line when (and only when) directed to do so by a fire or police official. Driving over a charged hose can sever the line and cut off all water supply to a fire scene, thus severely endangering lives and property. Its also illegal.
Do I have to pull over for flashing blue/red lights on the dash of a personal vehicle?
While you are not legally obligated to stop for a blue light, we implore you to do so. We use our personal lights to get to the fire station quickly in the event of an alarm. This is a necessary step in the response to an emergency. Please note that while we are permitted to display the flashing light, we are given no special privileges on the roadway. This includes speeding and the running of red lights or stop signs. Such actions put everyone in danger and we do not condone them. If you see a violator, please contact your local police. Also, please be aware that police impersonators often use lights similar to ours to stop drivers on the road. We will NEVER use our lights to pull you over and approach your car. If this happens, drive your car to the nearest safe, lit and populated place and contact the police. For other traffic safety information contact your local police or visit the Warren PD online (http://www.warrenpolice.com)
What is that siren I hear every Saturday at noon?
All four stations in Warren (as well as those in surrounding towns) are equipped with air-raid style sirens to announce incoming alarms. The sirens are activated by the police dispatcher via radio tones and are only used between the hours of 8am and 6pm. The siren is tested weekly at noon on Saturday. Community's siren is currently de-activated for service.
Why do you insist on using your truck's siren at three o'clock in the morning?
Traffic laws require that we utilize both our lights and sirens when passing through an intersection during an emergency response. Although we try to minimize the use of noise-making devices late at night, it is for your safety and ours that we activate the siren and/or air horn.
If I have a fire, who responds?
Depending on the nature of the call, the location in town, the time of day, and the availability of volunteers, one or more of Warren's fire companies will respond to your alarm. If the Warren Fire Department is unable to respond, the Department from a neighboring town will respond through an agreement called Mutual Aid (link). See the Response (link) section of this site for more information.
I had a relatively small fire in my house, why did you cut a hole in the roof or break my windows?
Even small fires create an enormous amount of smoke and heat which we need to remove from the building in order to extinguish the fire. Smoke and heated air naturally rise and cutting open the roof above the fire is the most effective means of removing the toxic gases. This is called ventilating the fire. When a fire is properly ventilated from above, it has very little chance of spreading horizontally through the house - thus a kitchen fire will remain a kitchen fire and not spread to the bedrooms or living room.
How do I un-call the Fire Department if I realize my alarm was false and there's no fire?
You don't. Once we are called we are obligated to respond regardless of what we are told on the phone. So either a fire truck, a fire officer (in a personal vehicle), or a police officer will respond to the location to confirm that there is no emergency. If the fire alarm came in through a commercial alarm company, you must contact them and give the cancellation code to declare that there is no emergency. In those cases, we will often hold our trucks in-station (staffed but not on the road), and a chief officer responds to the scene to evaluate the situation.
Non-Emergency Operations:
How do I reach you during times of non-emergency?
Our direct phone number is 908.756.6223. See the Contacts (link) section for additional names and numbers.
Do you fill pools?
Because of our ability to flow water at very high rates (and our 3000 gallon water tanker) we are often asked to fill new swimming pools. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer this service.
Why did I see your truck on the road outside of Warren?
We often travel outside the confines of the Township for emergencies and non-emergencies alike. We may be on a mutual aid (link) call or station coverage to a neighboring town, on our way to a multi-jurisdictional training session, or heading to participate in a wet down or parade. There are also certain parts of Warren reachable only by traveling through other towns like Watchung, Bernards or Greenbrook.
Didn't I see you driving around with Santa Claus this past December?
Yes you did. Each December we celebrate the season by getting together with Santa Claus himself and driving every street in our district. We pipe Christmas music over the loudspeaker, turn on all the lights and make a whole lot of noise to celebrate the arrival of our rosy-cheeked acquaintance. Santa rides behind us in his sleigh accompanied by Mrs. Claus and the elves. Our goal is to meet every one of you in our district and make the kids smile in anticipation of the Christmas season. We are not out specifically to solicit donations, but your gifts are greatly appreciated.
My Scout group would like to visit the fire station, how do I arrange that?
Contact the Asst. Chief by phone or email or stop by the firehouse on a Wednesday night to arrange a time.
Who is responsible for enforcing fire codes in Warren?
The Township's Fire Prevention Bureau, led by Fire Marshal Tom Byrne, is responsible for code enforcement and inspections. The office can be reached at 908.753.8000 ext 259 or
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. The Fire Prevention Bureau is a separate entity from the Warren Township Fire Department.
Fundraising and Money:
Where do my donations go?
Building upkeep and firefighting equipment mostly. See the Fundraising (link) page for details.
Why should I donate when I already support you through taxes?
Taxes only pay for large budget items like fire engines and breathing apparatus. We built and maintain our firehouse on donated money. We also depend on donations to get certain types of equipment like ladders, gas meters and flashlights. Our operations are funded by a combination of tax and donated money. Without donations, the Town would have to face a reduction in firefighting readiness or an increase in taxes.
How much do I save as a tax payer by having a volunteer fire force?
Quite a bit actually. A town the size of Warren would require a full time staff of 30 firefighters. With a competitive average salary of $60,000 each, personnel costs alone would be roughly $1.8 Million - and thats not including pension and other long-term costs. The only monetary offset for the necessary tax increase would be a slight reduction in home insurance costs for having a full-time fire staff serve your community.
How much does a fire truck cost?
Depending on the size, the brand and the capabilities, a new fire truck can cost between $500,000 and $1.25 Million before equipment is added. A truck often hauls around one-hundred thousand dollars in equipment and over 8000 pounds (1000 gal) of water.
Why am I charged for mandatory fire inspections? (businesses)
You'll have to ask the Fire Marshal or the Township Committee. Fire inspections are out of our jurisdiction and as such, we cannot comment on the need for fees.
I'm cleaning out my rec-room, would you like me to donate my old furniture or TV?
Thank you for the offer, but no. For years we have taken in other people's old furniture and equipment to furnish our firehouse. The result was a seriously mismatched set of chairs and several "You can have it if you can fix it" televisions. While we appreciate your offer, we prefer to furnish our station with moderately priced, matching furniture and new electronics. Doing so makes our home much more comfortable and pleasant to stay in.
Do you accept donated old cars for rescue training?
Yes we do. We use old or damaged cars to recreate crash scenarios and practice our rescue procedures. The value of the car is a tax-deductible donation. Contact the Asst. Chief or the President to arrange a donation. We will cut apart the car to train for vehicle extrications and then send it off to a junkyard. We have agreements in place with local tow companies who donate their services to move the damaged cars.
Which Fire Company should I donate to?
You should donate to the fire company that serves your home or business directly. In Warren, we delineate service areas by geographic boundaries. All four companies in town solicit donations from their respective areas only, despite the fact that we respond together on most every call in Town.
Who pays for the fuel in the fire trucks?
The Township pay for fuel used in our trucks through tax money. We fuel up from the same pumps as the Police and Public Works Departments.
All those fire houses in Warren... you're all the same, right?
Yes and no. The four companies in Town were each established at different times, by different people to serve different populations. Each station has different maintenance and equipment needs based on the types of structures in their service area. Together, we are equal members of the Warren Township Volunteer Fire Department. We work together and train together. Today, there is an unprecedented level of cooperation and camaraderie between the Companies. Our goal is to work together as one efficient unit while maintaining the individuality and unique personality of each company.
Miscellaneous :
Why is the fire truck always left running whens its outside?
The short answer is, we don't want to run the risk that the trucks won't start up again. The long answer involves an explanation of how diesel engines work. The engines in most fire trucks do not handle the cold very well and need to be left running or plugged into an electrical outlet when exposed to less-than-desirable temperatures. In the station bay, the trucks are kept plugged in to a heater which keeps the engine warm (the bays are also heated). When parked outside from around September to April, the trucks must be left at idle to maintain temperature.
Why are some fire trucks not red?
In the United States the traditional color for fire trucks is red. In the 1970's and 80's the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a study suggesting that red was not the best color to be seen while driving down the road. In an effort to reduce traffic crashes involving fire engines, the DOT recommended that new trucks be alternative colors like lime green or yellow to increase their visibility. Warren bought several fire trucks during this period, three of which are still in service. Shortly thereafter, further studies indicated that the change in traffic crashes changed little with green trucks compared to red ones. With that news, tradition took over and we returned to painting our trucks red. Today, all vehicles new to the Warren Fire Department are painted in a style similar to the City of Chicago with a dark red bottom and a black stripe across the top of the cab.
Fire Safety:
How often should I clean my chimney?
Annually. Fireplaces and furnaces leave considerable amounts of residue on the inside walls of a chimney. This residue builds up over time and can ignite very easily. We respond to 3 or 4 such fires each winter. While cleaning the chimney, take the opportunity to check the chimney for cracks which can also lead to fires.
Do you offer fire safety handouts and tip sheets?
Yes we do. During fire safety week (early October) we travel to the local schools and daycare centers to discuss fire safety with the children and teachers. We have a large assortment of handouts and toys (frisbees, plastic helmets, pencils, stickers, etc) that are available for free to anyone interested. Call, stop by or email for information.
At a minimum, working smoke detectors should be placed outside of each bedroom or sleeping area in your home. At least one detector should be installed on each floor of your home as well. Please remember that smoke detectors only work when they have good batteries. Test your detectors regularly and replace the batteries annually or according to the manufacturer's specifications. And NEVER remove the batteries from your detector to silence it when it goes off accidentally. If you forget to replace the batteries, the detector is rendered useless.
