March 19, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Franklin Lakes Volunteers describe fire department operations By Frank J. McMahon New Franklin Lakes Fire Company President G. Thomas Donch, former president James Webb, and Fire Chief Ryan Dodd recently attended a borough council meeting to explain the operations of the borough’s vol- unteer fire department and its fire company. During the presentation, it was pointed out that the Franklin Lakes Fire Department was founded in 1924 and the all-volunteer department responds to all fire and rescue calls within the borough and provides mutual aid to neighboring communities. The department responds from two strategically located firehouses: headquarters located on the north side of town, and the Southside Firehouse, which covers the south side of the borough. The current apparatus fleet consists of three engines, one squad engine, one aerial truck, one tanker, one air and light unit, one sup- port vehicle, and two command vehicles. The fleet also includes a flat bottom rescue boat located at the south side firehouse. During 2013, the department answered 470 calls. In 2012, the department answered 570 calls, including sev- eral related to Hurricane Sandy. Donch explained that the volunteer fire department is funded by the borough’s budget, but the fire company does its own fundraising and has its own bylaws. He said the funds raised by the fire company are used to pro- vide social activities for the volunteers, such as provid- ing snacks after a weekly drill and Webb said the funds raised by the fire company pay for Santa Day and three major social events during the year, such as the depart- ment’s installation event. Webb said the borough’s budget covers everything needed to put out a fire. “It’s firematic related,” he said, adding that the bor- ough owns the firehouses and maintains them, but the fire company’s social activities are not covered by the borough’s budget. The fire department, however, is funded by the bor- ough’s budget. According to Webb, the department con- sists of junior members between the ages of 16 and 18, and full members 18 and older. New volunteers spend 38 weeks at the Law & Public Safety Institute learning how to put out a fire. Donch said they also receive additional training in rescue and laddering and they continue their training to keep up to date on how to use the fire department’s equipment. “It’s an ongoing process,” Donch said, “just like the police department and the ambulance corps.” Donch emphasized that the training provides young men who may not have a purpose in life with moral char- acter building, and they learn a lot. “It’s not a game,” Donch said. “It’s serious, and the kids learn that and respect that, and they carry that sense of responsibility with them as they become great leaders in the community.” Dodd pointed out that the fire department creates unique situations where a 16-year-old and a 92-year-old can talk about the same subject and have a friendship. “Being a fire department volunteer teaches them life skills and how to deal with different situations,” Dodd said. “We try to get them to want to be there.” Donch advised that some of the young volunteers leave home to go to college and get leaves of absence and volunteer in the fire department during the summer, or they volunteer at a fire company where their college is located. “It builds character in these young men and they respect and appreciate that,” Donch said. “It gives them a purpose to life and instills responsibility which is part of the legacy of the department.” Webb pointed out that the volunteers meet once a month at the south side firehouse on Franklin Lake Road, and Dodd explained the volunteers meet every Monday night at the firehouse to inspect the equipment and get training to meet state and borough requirements. They also conduct drills at the borough’s schools. According to Webb, years ago you had to live in the borough to be a volunteer firefighter, then you had to work in the borough, but now a lot of members do not live in town so they join in high school and the depart- ment accommodates them as they go on to college. He said many of the young people who join the fire department live at home in the borough, but by the time they reach the age of 25, they don’t live in town any- more. As a result, the department is always looking for additional volunteers. In addition, he said the depart- ment also gets fire fighting help from the Northwest Bergen Mutual Aid group of volunteer fire departments that includes Wyckoff, Midland Park, and Oakland.