Thursday, May 9, 2013
Fire Chief Keith Davis said that members of the borough fire department will be going door to door to distribute free smoke detectors and offer a free fire safety checkup.
Don't be surprised if you get a knock on your door from a Collingswood firefighter in the near future. Thanks in part to a shared-service agreement with Pennsauken and an aid grant, the borough fire department is beginning a block-by-block home inspection tour to distribute smoke detectors, offer "pre-incident planning" assistance and offer solutions for any safety issues within the residence. The block inspections were a service the borough had to cut back about five years ago due to a lack of staffing, Fire Chief Keith Davis said, but the program is a valuable service. "It benefits the public and our residents, but it also benefits our personnel because you’re getting to meet our fire department and ask any questions," he said. "Instead…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The borough fire department has responded to several calls in the past week alone. Dry weather and stray cigarettes are likely culprits.
Warm, dry weather and stray sparks don't mix, especially when you're around mulch piles that can fuel a fire. In the past week, the Collingswood Fire Department has been called out to the Heights of Collingswood apartment building four times to extinguish fires that started in mulch piles on the property. Two happened in the afternoon and evening of April 3 outside the "C" Tower, one in the afternoon of April 7 outside the "A" Tower, and two within an hour April 9, also outside the "A" Tower. Fire Chief Keith Davis says there is "nothing really suspicious" about the activity; when new mulch is laid, it can burn for a while if a spark is introduced. Lately it's been a common issue in surrounding towns, too, he said. "Every time when the …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Firefighter Timothy Tredanari and Police Officers Samuel Rocco and Kenneth Jacoby took their oaths of office at the April meeting of the Collingswood Borough Commissioners.
Collingswood welcomed two new probationary full-time police officers and one new probationary full-time firefighter/EMT at its April meeting on Monday night. Timothy Tredanari joined the Collingswood Fire Department, while Kenneth Jacoby and Samuel Rocco took their oaths of service to the Collingswood Police. It was standing room only at the Collingswood Community Center second-floor meeting room, as uniformed firefighters and policemen lined the rear and side walls, applauding their new brothers in arms. “It’s not just getting the job," Mayor James Maley remarked to the crowd after the ceremonies had concluded. "For all of them it’s something they’ve been wanting to do since they were little kids. So welcome aboard; we congratulate you.” …
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sharp Shot Media captured the bald generosity of Collingswood's recent St. Baldrick's Day fundraiser.
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Sunday, March 24
Collingswood's St. Baldrick's Day has become a communitywide event for the borough to show its support for pediatric cancer research. This year's event was the biggest yet, with more than $100,000 raised. St. Baldrick's lead organizer and firefighter Kevin Ehret estimated 1,200-1,300 people attended this year's event, held at the Scottish Rite auditorium. Sharp Shot Media put together a great video of the day. Click on the video above to watch or visit YouTube. Keep up with community news by signing up for Collingswood Patch's free daily newsletter—everything you need to know about Collingswood, in one email.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
In memory of their fallen friends, organizers of the St. Baldrick's Festival work to raise $100,000 annually for cancer-stricken children. The colossal party they throw is just a bonus.
This story originally ran in March 2012; it has been updated. For Collingswood firefighter Kevin Ehret, the St. Baldrick's Day fundraiser is more than just one of the best parties of the year. It's an annual reminder of the fraternal bonds shared by anyone who's ever donned a hard hat and fireproof coat. One of the dearest to Ehret’s heart was his friend and fellow firefighter, Andy Staszewski. Cancer took Andy when he was only 23. The year he was diagnosed, his brothers at the fire station surprised him one night by shaving their heads in a show of solidarity. “We knew what he was going through, and we didn’t want him to go through that alone,” said Ehret. “He was never a real emotional guy, but you could tell he was overwhelmed.” Maybe …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Like many labor negotiations of the day, new hires are going to find their salary and benefits reduced as the borough offsets the costs of salary increases within the 2 percent cap.
Collingswood firefighters are getting a raise. Not a big one, and not all at once—but any pay increase for taxpayer-funded work is no small feat to negotiate in an era of federal sequestration and the 2-percent state budget cap. At its monthly commissioners meeting Monday, the borough introduced an ordinance that would formalize a pay increase for Collingswood firefighters through 2015. In terms of numbers, it is structured identically to that negotiated by the Collingswood Police Department: retroactive to 2012, department staff will receive annual pay increases of 1.5 percent, 1.5 percent, 1.75 percent and 1.75 percent through 2015. Collingswood Fire Chief Keith Davis said those gains were earned at the cost of some concessions for …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Collingswood and Pennsauken inked a 3-year deal to share fire and property maintenance inspections. Collingswood leaders say the borough will save $50,000 with the deal.
The following announcement was provided by the borough of Collingswood. In another step to reduce costs and share services between municipalities, Collingswood and Pennsauken officials formalized an agreement in March to share fire prevention and housing inspection services for three years. The arrangement merges inspection services of the two fire departments to create a Fire Prevention Bureau which will share Pennsauken’s current fire official, one administrative secretary from Collingswood, and four licensed, part-time inspectors to be hired by both Collingswood and Pennsauken to handle the fire and property maintenance inspections for both towns. The Bureau will be headquartered in Pennsauken, but property owners can still contact …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Collingswood's head fire honcho reminds people about installing and checking smoke detectors, plus having as escape route in case of emergency.
Collingswood Fire Chief Keith Davis hosted an NBC10 reporter in his home to talk about the importance of smoke detectors in the wake of deadly fires in the region. Having an escape route is equally important, David told NBC, recommending people draw out a floor plan and practice escaping from their homes. View the full report at NBC10.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Borough authorities report the fire alarm system in the building has been maliciously and falsely triggered at least four times since the beginning of the year.
Collingswood emergency services personnel have been called out to investigate four false-alarm calls at the Heights of Collingswood apartment building since Jan. 3. All have occurred in the same wing of the first floor of the "D" Tower in the Heights of Collingswood in the same wing: According to Collingswood Police, knowingly triggering a fire alarm when there's no emergency is a crime of the fourth degree that maxes out at $2,500 full-cash bail. Police have said that once the identity of the responsible party or parties is known, he, she or they will be charged accordingly with all offenses. Those acts are not only criminally malicious, said Collingswood Fire Chief Keith Davis, but they're downright disrespectful to the thousands who …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Fire Chief Keith Davis says the county is providing new 700 MHz devices that will replace its existing technology at no cost to the borough.
It's the difference between talking to someone outside the building and talking to someone across the county, Collingswood Fire Chief Keith Davis said. That's the order-of-magnitude improvement that the new radios to which the department is upgrading offer. As part of an overhauled Camden County emergency communications system, Collingswood firefighters will receive a one-for-one replacement of their existing radios. Every firefighter is issued a radio, and every firefighting apparatus in the department has a mobile radio and four portable units, Davis said. The new equipment is being issued at no cost to Collingswood, Davis said. It was paid for by a $35 million allocation approved by the Camden County Freeholders in November 2011. The …
Linda Fanelli
7:33 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
That's wonderful you came out to support this cause! Yes it is a little busy with families and kids running all around but next time if you see an open seat just ask if it is open! It was an extremely friendly event and you and your guests would have been welcome at any table I'm sure. Hope to see you next year!! more ›