A week later, it was time to reflect; 01/30/2019 at 5:50pm, the Hawthorne Fire Department was dispatched to Marcal Paper factory on the edge of Route 80 in Elmwood Park for mutual aid on a 8+ alarm working fire. Engine 4 arrived on scene and was quickly put to work, stretching 1000 feet of 5” supply hose. The engine connected to a Woodbridge ladder truck at River Dr & Summit Ave and dropped line down to River Dr & Lee Street, some 1000 feet. Engine 4 was then connected to by a Garfield Engine that traveled down to River Rd to a fire hydrant. During the initial setup, several members assisted with fire departments at the Elmwood Park Boat Ramp/Passaic River setting up drafting operations. During the 14 hours of service, Engine 4 pumped 1.26 million gallons of water to the fire scene while rotating man power every few hours to deal with fierce westerly wind, gusting between 40 and 60 mph and temperatures plunging into the single digits, with record low temperatures. Wind chill advisory warning of “frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. A day later, Thursday morning, Engine 4 members were task with hours of work removing all the frozen hose from the scene. Friday, February 1st, Hawthorne Tower 2 was requested for mutual aid for assistance in the overhaul phase. Work lasted from 6pm to midnight. (Photo credits to Capt. Lodder, Lt. Morton, Lt. McCarvill, and FF Marsch)
