There is 2 new shirt designs for  the Paulsboro Fire Dept.  One shirt will have the RED/WHITE/BLUE Maltese Cross on the front (a small crest design where a pocket would be) with the back design being an eagle with flames and a picture of some Paulsboro buildings. (This shirt design is shown on the home page). The other design will have a front crest similar to the PFD patch now bing used. On the back of the shirt will be a gold Maltese Cross w/ lettering above and below it. (This design is shown by clicking on the story). Each PFD firefighter may pick either one of the designs for a T'shirt. Anyone wishing extra shirts of either design may do so by filling out the order sheet posted at the Paulsboro Station. (You may order T's, Long Sleeve T's or Sweatshirts.) The order will be submitted on July 16th. Some of these shirts will be available to be purchased  on Paulsboro Day (maybe). Another shirt was designed, minus the flames, and also says NEW JERSEY on the bottom instead of FIRE DEPT. No shirts will be made from this design. (Click on the camera icon in the story). Anyone wishing the FD shirts can contact me. The "Eagle" Shirts will be NAVY BLUE in color. The other design wil be a GRAY shirt.  We should have them by the end of July. For those interested, these pictures of the designs make great screensavers and/ or background for your computers. Gary Stevenson (gcsteven@comcast.net)

 A trash truck worker was severly burned this morning when a bottle containing an industrial cleaner exploded as it was being compacted in the rear of the trash truck. The Paulsboro FD was called out to the scene for the Hazardous Material Incident. Deputy Chief Glenn Roemmich (1702) was the Incident Commander. Valero Refinery's Hazmat team was called in as was the Glocester County's CBRNE team. Hazmat crews identified the material and began diluting the chemical. Crews were on the scene for over 2 hours. Also responding to the scene was apparatus from the   Gibbstown, Bridgeport & E. Greenwich fire companies. Deptford handled Fire Police duties. The PFD would like to thanks all those FD's who assisted us on this call.

Paulsboro sanitation workers hospitalized in chemical spill  
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 By Jessica Beym jbeym@sjnewsco.com

PAULSBORO Two sanitation workers were taken to a hospital Monday afternoon one of them with third-degree burns after a gallon container of drain cleaner spilled out of the garbage truck where they were working and onto their skin.

The Gloucester County Haz-Mat team was called out to the scene to clean up the spill, in what Mayor John Burzichelli called an "unfortunate accident."

Burzichelli, speaking on behalf of the borough's Office of Emergency Management, said the police department will conduct an investigation as to how the chemical fluid may have ended up in the curbside waste.

The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of West Buck Street and Wert Avenue. The company, Casworth Waste Services of Westville, has a contract with the borough to collect waste.

Burzichelli said they did not know whether the fluid, which was about a gallon, was industrial or household strength, or whether it came from a residence or a business.

Both workers were taken to Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., one of them with third-degree burns to the face, chest and arms. The other's injuries weren't as serious, Burzichelli said.

Names of the injured were not available.

The Haz-Mat team hosed down the street where the truck had stopped, brushing the water into a shallow puddle on the side of the road. There, the pH levels were tested to ensure there was no risk.

"This just serves as a reminder that, once you throw something in the trash, it doesn't just go away," Burzichelli said. "There's a proper way to dispose of these things."

Drain cleaner should be saved for hazardous waste collection. However, most disposal directions are located on the bottle for more details.

The FD was dispatched to an alarm call at the Underwood Building, Broad & Delaware streets, this evening around 6:30 p.m. Careless cooking activated the alarm. Engine 1721 responded and staged in the parking lot. Crews were on the scene for about 15 minutes.

The Paulsboro Fire Department and Thorofare Fire Co. were dispatched out to RT-295 for a one car accident early this afternoon. A car in the northbound lane, just past the on ramp, lost control and struck the guardrail. A woman and her 2 kids were taken to the hospital to be checked out. Crews from Engine's 1721, 613 & Rescue 1718 assisted the squad and with traffic at the scene. Crew were on the scene for about 45 minutes.

The Mayor & Council honored two members of the Paulsboro Fire Department this evening at the council meeting. Mayor John Burzichelli presented Jack Suiter with a Proclomation honoring him for his 50-years of service to the FD. Firefighter Mark Pawlowic was recognized for his recent achievements at the Gloucester County Fire Academy.

Mark Pawlowic of the Paulsboro Fire Department was honored with two top awards at the Gloucester County Fire Academy's Firefighter-1 Graduation Ceremony this evening. Mark was 1st in his class for Academic Achievement , and again 1st in the class for Practical Skills. The fete of winning these two awards has never been achieved before by any other graduate. The ceremony was held at the Gloucester County College. Paulsboro Mayor & State Assemblyman John Burzichelli was on hand to speak and congratulate those who graduated. Glenn Roemmich, Deputy Chief of the Paulsboro Fire Department and an Instructor for the Fire Academy, sang the National Anthem. Lt. Joan Lutz and Fire Marshal Archie Roemmick, both officers of the Paulsboro FD, also serve as Instructors. Robert Hill, Director of the Academy, open the ceremonies and Chief John Hoffman of the Washington Twp. FD was the keynote speaker.

The annual Memorial Day Service was held at the Paulsboro Firehouse this morning. PVFA President Larry Moran Jr. was the emcee for  the service. Paulsboro Mayor / Assemblyman John Burzichelli  gave a pointed thank you speech about  volunteer firefighters. Pastor Kevin Davis from the St. Paul's Church, and also the appointed FD Chaplain, also spoke as well as gave the Invocation and Benediction. A wreath was laid by the family of Bill Hulmes in his memory. Carol Berth, President of the Ladies Auxiliary, laid a wreath in memory of Auxiliary members who passed away in the last year. Paulsboro VFW Post 678 fired a volley of shots. The bell was then tolled while Archie Roemmich read the Firemen's Prayer. President Moran then ended the ceremony by asking all to thank a veteran for their service to the country. Refreshments were served by the LAdies Auxiliary after the service ended.

Early this afternoon the PFD was called out to a two-car accident at the intersection of Thomson & Elizabeth avenues. Crews from Rescue 1718 and Engine 1721 assisted the squad with patient care, put down some oil dry and swept up the accident debris. The driver of one of the vehicles  was taken to UMH by the County Ambulance squad to be checked out. The driver of the other car was uninjured. Crews were on location for about 40 minutes.

Recently, the restored 1952 American LaFrance, that served the Borough of Paulsboro from 1952 - 1962, was sold and shipped to a firetruck museum in Virginia. The truck was used by the Paulsboro Fire Company up until April of 1962 when it was heavily damaged when the Paulsboro firehouse burned down. The truck is currently being rewired by the new owners and a new pump installed. They plan to keep the truck as it is, with no other alterations.

District 17 was called out this afternoon to extinguish a dumpster fire in the apartment complex on Baird Avenue. Engine 1711 responded and found a dumpster that was heavily envolved by fire. A crew used a booster hose to extinguish the fire. Crews were on location for about 30 minutes. Earlier in the day the PFD was called out for a downed wire on a house at 318 W. Buck street. It turned out to be a phone line. A crew from Engine 1721 hooked the wire back up to the house.