Milford Fire Department breaks down 2024

Last year was an eventful year for the Milford Fire Department and Ambulance Service, Station 33. The Pike County Courier recently got an update on all of the station’s 2024 activities from Assistant Fire Chief Eric Passaro.

According to Passaro, emergency services responded to 741 incidents and the fire department had 532 incidents with an average response time of four minutes and 25 seconds. They also assisted in fighting fires in Greenwood Lake, NY, and Wantage Township, NJ. The special operations team went into service and received a trailer to house its equipment used for trench, confined space and high angle rescues.

Training

And there was the time spent at the Pike County Training Center — vehicle rescues, structural collapse operations, live fire exercises, and VEIS (vent, enter, isolate, search) are just a few of the trainings the team completed. Making its return for the first time in a number of years was first responder autism training. Milford Fire and Ambulance teamed up with Pike Autism Support Services of NEPA, Inc. to train first responders from Pike, Orange and Sussex counties on how to recognize when a patient is autistic and how to deescalate any situation that would make helping more difficult.

New additions

Eleven new members were added to the ranks, many of whom had prior experience. The number of members that actively responded to emergencies reached 45 with an average of 10 members reporting to each call. All members are volunteers, which can make it difficult to know how many people will be available to answer a call.

Tips

Passaro, who is also the Emergency Management Coordinator for Milford Township, issued some reminders to residents: clean your chimneys properly, don’t overload electrical outlets, purchase fire extinguishers, and replace smoke alarm batteries regularly. He asked that residents be mindful of weather conditions before lighting a fire. Even if there is no active ban on burning, dry weather and high winds can cause hazardous conditions when starting fires outdoors.

What’s next

Passaro stated that he appreciates the support from the community, and he is looking forward to another great year. A highlight of 2025 promises to be the fall arrival of a new engine. Be on the lookout for fundraisers such as coin drops and appearances at local events such as Milford Music Fest throughout the year. Recruitment and retention for firefighters and emergency medical staff, and fundraising help will continue to be a focus. “There’s a place for everybody” said Passaro. You can support Station 33 and learn more about volunteering at the station website: milfordfire33.com.