From the Atlantic City Press Published: Monday, March 10, 2008

By MICHELLE LEE Staff Writer, 609-272-7256

Volunteer fire companies are the backbone of fire protection in southern New Jersey, where there are few paid full-time firefighters. When volunteer firefighters grow older, many departments find they still play an important role in the firehouse, serving as mentors and even filling in as first responders when younger firefighters are scarce.

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WINNIE ------A copy of a photo , from 1976 , when Winnie Adams was an active firefighter. . Winnie Adams, who recently stepped down as president (not chief) of Longport's volunteer fire company after 30-plus years. She's part of a multi-generation family with the fire co, and is still an active firefighter even if she's not president anymore. Thursday January 30 , 2008



From the Atlantic City Press Published: Wednesday, March 05, 2008

By MARTIN DeANGELIS Staff Writer, 609-272-7237

Winnie Adams is probably getting used to not being president of the Longport Fire Department. But it could take her a while, because she held that title for more than 30 years before she finally stepped down a few weeks ago.

So Adams had plenty of time to get used to being president of the all-volunteer department, but she was an unusual choice when her colleagues elected her back in 1976. She still remembers the newspaper story that called her the first woman president of a fire department in New Jersey history.

Still, Adams wants to make it clear that she wasn't Longport's big fire boss for that long run as president - an office, by the way, that doesn't actually come with an office in the borough's compact, crowded firehouse.

"The chief runs it," she explained shortly after she stepped down, and the town officially honored her with a Winnie Adams day. "I did all the administration."

From the Atlantic City Press Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008

PLEASANTVILLE - One resident was seriously burned and a fire captain suffered minor burns when a two-alarm fire destroyed a residence on Princeton Avenue, the Fire Department said Wednesday.

The residents came home at 1:51 a.m. Tuesday to the garage that had been converted into an apartment to find it on fire, the Fire Department said. For unknown reasons, Edward Barts ran inside and suffered burns. He was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, and transferred from there to the burn unit of Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Firefighters from Absecon, Northfield and Farmington also arrived to battle the flames, which were declared under control at 2:15 a.m., fire officials said. The building was considered a total loss. The two other family members were taken in by relatives.

Capt. Stephen Wilkins suffered minor burns to his ears and neck, and was treated at the scene, the Fire Department said. He later went to the hospital emergency room for further evaluation.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental, but remains under investigation, the Fire Department said.

From the Atlantic City Press published: Wednesday, February 20, 2008

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

All five of the township's fire companies were called to a fire that seriously damaged a house on Route 40 on Tuesday afternoon, police said. No injuries were reported.

The fire in the house, located near the Balic Winery, was reported at 1:18 p.m. Police said officers arrived at the house to see smoke and flames coming from the building. The officers checked the first story and found no one present, but they could not reach the second floor because of heavy smoke and intense heat.

Firefighters from the Mays Landing, Mizpah, Laureldale, Weymouth and Cologne companies responded, as well as the Mays Landing Rescue Squad, police said. The fire was extinguished but not before it did serious damage to the roof and attic area, police said. The rest of the house suffered smoke and water damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, police said.

(KMOV) -- A police officer in Hazelwood will have to pay thousands of dollars for getting into it with a firefighter while he was trying to help an accident victim.

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From the Atlantic City Press published: Friday, February 15, 2008

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) A 2,200-acre fire in the Pinelands in the next month will be no accident.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is planning a controlled burn in the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management area in Stafford Township in the next month.

Exactly when it's conducted depends on the weather in a corner of the Pinelands not far from Long Beach Island.

The idea is that by clearing underbrush and fallen pine needles, there would be less fuel for a major fire.

The area to be burned is near where 17,000 acres burned last May after a military jet dropped a practice flare in the area during training exercises.