Fire company marks 75 years of dedication
Tinton Falls Fire Co. No. 1 plans June 23 celebration
BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer

Tinton Falls fire truck fleet

TINTON FALLS - The Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1 is about to celebrate 75 years of service and dedicate its newest piece of equipment.

David Boehning, chair of the anniversary committee, has been a firefighter in Tinton Falls for 13 of those years and is the captain of Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1.

Boehning said Tinton Falls Fire Company No. 1 has about 40 active members.

"That may sound like a lot," he said. "However, when you are dealing with a volunteer organization such as a fire company it's not always easy to get a crew for calls. Our members' occupations are diverse and their schedules vary."

Work, family and personal lives dictate when someone can respond to calls, he noted, so 40 active members is not really enough.

Boehning said the company has been very fortunate in Tinton Falls with maintaining and acquiring equipment needed for fire fighting and rescue operations. They have a brush truck used for woods fires; a rescue truck for vehicle extrication and various types of other rescues.

In addition, they have two engines, or "pumpers," that are used for structure fires and other emergency responses; one of which is a new addition to the fleet.

"It's a 2007 Pierce Dash capable of pumping water at 1,750 gallons per minute. We will be dedicating this engine," Boehning said, adding that it is important that residents know that their support, shown by passing fire district budgets, is greatly appreciated.

He explained that it is through that funding that the fire company remains well equipped and well trained.

Boehning noted that 20 years ago, the members of the fire company built the firehouse themselves.

"The current members take great pride in our home at 695 Tinton Ave. We couldn't get together and build a firehouse like they did, but we can maintain it in a fashion that will memorialize their hard work and efforts," he said.

In order to do that, the fire company holds a number of fundraising activities. Besides their annual fund drive, they hold a Christmas tree sale and a Valentine's Day rose sale.

"It is through our fundraising that we were able to have the roof replaced, and new siding and new bay doors as well as purchase an electric information sign on the front of the property," he said.

"In appreciation, we would like to invite everyone to come celebrate our 75th Anniversary and Engine Dedication at the firehouse on June 23."

"Our fire company is like a close family. We share laughs and tears. We don't all always see eye to eye, but when it counts, we are able to group together and accomplish whatever difficult task is presented to us," he said.

But, he noted, in some cases, the company actually is a family. Matt Park Jr., who was the chief in 2005/2006, is the older brother of the current 2007 chief, Chris Park. Their cousin, Will Furman, is current 2007 assistant chief. Their father, Matt Park Sr., was the chief in 1979/1980, their uncle, Terry Park, has served in the past and his son, Steven Park, is a firefighter today.

"Their family is deeply rooted in the history of this fire company, right down to the founding members. I grew up and attended Boy Scouts with Matt Jr., Chris and Will. We are all Eagle Scouts out of Troop 124, Tinton Falls," Boehning said.

Councilman Brendan Tobin, who is also a firefighter, provided the historical underpinnings of the fire company.

In 1932, Edwin Emmons, a member of the then-50-year-old Eatontown Fire Company, helped about a dozen residents of the area around the borough of Tinton Falls to form their own volunteer fire company to speed response to emergencies. He helped to obtain the very first fire engine for the new fire company, too.

The 14 charter members got together in the living room of the historic Crawford House and founded Tinton Falls Fire Co. No. 1 in what was then New Shrewsbury. The TFFC No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary was founded at that same time, in the kitchen of the Crawford House, and both organizations are celebrating their 75th anniversary of dedicated service to the community on June 23.

"From that humble beginning in an old house in 1932, the fire company went on to become incorporated at the state level in 1934 and since then, as the Borough of Tinton Falls has grown, the fire service has grown," Tobin said.

It now includes four fire companies; Wayside Fire Company (founded before Tinton Falls No. 1), Northside Engine Co. and Pine Brook Fire Co.

Tinton Falls Fire Co. No. 1 is a fire/rescue unit, outfitted with a heavy rescue truck, a brush and forest fire truck, and two engines, including the new Pierce 1,750 gallon-per-minute engine that they will be dedicating on June 23, Tobin said.

"Since 1932, we've had the privilege of being served by men and women from every walk of life, local workers and commuters, business owners, accountants, school staffers, mechanics, truck drivers, salespeople, lawyers, police officers, Navy personnel stationed at [Naval Weapons Station] Earle, a Coast Guardsman from Sandy Hook, engineers, federal agents, farmers and neighbors from almost every other walk of life.

"We've also had a large number of Eagle Scouts who've joined our ranks and risen to leadership positions within a few years. We've handled almost every kind of emergency call, too, from countless false alarms to structure fires to woodland fires to vehicle fires to bus fires; a wide variety of car, truck and bus crashes, heavy storms, flooding, ice storms, elevator rescues, bomb scares, and more, as well as the annual work calls to drive Santa Claus around the neighborhood the weekend before Christmas," Tobin said.

According to Boehning, Tinton Falls Fire Company responded to 319 calls last year, which is less than that of the average of previous years.

But, said Tobin, over the past 75 years, literally thousands of calls for help have been answered throughout the borough and in the surrounding area, day and night, every day of the year, including holidays.

Tobin said three-day weekends and holidays are surprisingly busy.

"Our response area currently includes hundreds of miles of pavement on local, county and state roads, over 6,100 homes, five regular schools, two satellite schools, several nursery schools and day care centers, hundreds of businesses and more, and that's just within our borders.

"We've also answered mutual aid calls to neighboring towns including Middletown, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Eatontown, Fort Monmouth, Naval Weapons Station Earle, Howell Township, Colts Neck, Wall Township, Ocean Township and Neptune, and others outside our shared borders," he said.

"For 75 years, we've worked together to make Tinton Falls a better, safer place to live, with neighbors coming out to help neighbors, and it's time to celebrate all of the countless hours of selfless dedication to our borough."

The 75th Anniversary and Engine Dedication will be held June 23 between 1-6 p.m. at the firehouse. It is open to the public and admission is free.

There will be food like chicken, ribs, hot dogs and hamburgers, beer and soda. Entertainment will be provided by Daddy Pop, one of the Jersey Shore's hottest cover bands; DJ Jimmi Mac and the Monmouth County Police Pipes and Drums.

In addition there will be games and a clown for children, and raffles throughout day.