Fired up for the 4th!

“At the end of the day, we’re just neighbors helping neighbors,” says Robert L. Wagmiller, Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter and Vice President of the Department. “Our all-volunteer fire department is made up of local residents who dedicate their time to protecting the community when emergencies happen.”

MLVFD volunteers have been responding in times of need since the early 1900s. Teaching the community fire safety and prevention while keeping volunteers up to date with frequent training drills are essential to the department. An eagerness to learn and give back to the community is at the heart of the organization.

Wagmiller describes a dual role in protecting the township. Educating on fire safety and being there at a moment’s notice in times of crisis round out the department’s role. “Service is a two-way street between the community and the department,” he says. Describing the Laurel Hill structure fire on Thanksgiving of 2023, Wagmiller was inspired by the sense of community with locals helping by bringing firefighters Thanksgiving meals. “We, along with our mutual aid departments, were there for over 10 hours,” he says. “It’s an example of our great and unique Mountain Lakes community.” 

The MLVFD Fired Up for the 4th 5K is a special event. As director of the 5K, tell us a little about it.

This is our third year! Our aim is to better protect residents and their properties and improve the safety for our members through better gear, training, and equipment. We used funds from the first race to purchase storm preparedness technology that gives us the capacity to view news updates about evolving storm conditions (on one monitor) while simultaneously viewing an interactive map of the town showing road closures and other hazards. This helps minimize response times and greatly enhances the safety of our responders in these adverse conditions. Funds from last year’s event were used to purchase new battery-operated Holmatro rescue tools (the “jaws of life”) that make it possible to quickly rescue victims entrapped in a vehicle. These purchases were only made possible by our (now up to 19!) generous sponsors, MLVFD Fired Up for the 4th 5K: Sponsors) and the race fees and donations of runners.

We wanted to create a family-friendly event where kids and families can learn more about fire safety and firefighting while also encouraging family fitness and healthy habits. For example, runners with strollers are welcome at the event and we have multiple award categories for the kiddos. One of the highlights for the kids and their families is kids get to use one of our real fire hoses (with the assistance of some of the junior firefighters), see and hold some of our tools, and to sit in the engine. The race has a fun, lively atmosphere, and we’re targeted to have 290 runners this year.

What’s your advice to keep residents safe for the 4th?

In New Jersey, most consumer fireworks are banned, and personal use of anything that flies into the air or explodes is illegal without a permit. If you bought fireworks in another state, they are generally prohibited. Since 2017, only low risk, ground based devices are allowed for personal use only by people 16 years or older on private property with the owner’s permission.

What’s legal in New Jersey and what’s banned?

Legal:

• Sparklers (wood stick or wire, no more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic per item)

• Handheld or ground-based sparkling devices (non-explosive, less than or equal to 75 grams per tube or less than or equal to 500 grams total for multi-tube)

• Novelty items such as smoke devices, glow worms, party poppers, snappers, drop pops, snakes, and similar, each with less than or equal to 0.25 grains of explosive

Banned:

• Firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, aerial shells, mortars, fountains, cones, wheels, and ground spinners

• Multi-shot aerial cakes, sky lanterns, and any device that launches or explodes

• Homemade or modified fireworks.

Possession or use of illegal fireworks can lead to prosecution for a petty disorderly persons offense, up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. Residents using even the limited number of legal fireworks can spark a serious fire or cause personal injury. Sparklers burn at about 1,200°F and can cause severe burns if mishandled or spark a significant fire if not used properly or in an unsafe area. The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety advises use only on private property with adult supervision while avoiding windy or dry conditions or areas with combustibles such as mulch, leaves, sticks, or dry grass.

Any safety tips for summer grilling?

Keep grills well away from the house, at least 10 feet from siding, decks, railings, fences, overhangs, and low tree branches. Never grill in a garage or enclosed porch. Even with the door open, heat and carbon monoxide can build up quickly. Clean grease trays and drip pans regularly. Grease buildup is one of the most common causes of grill fires. Periodically check propane connections by brushing a mixture of soap and water on the hose and fittings. Bubbling indicates a leak. Open the grill lid before lighting a propane grill to prevent gas from accumulating inside the cooking chamber. Keep a “kid and pet zone” of at least 3 feet around the grill. Have a multipurpose ABC fire extinguisher nearby. Know how to use it (PASS: Pull the Pin, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep). For small flare-ups, move the food and close the lid to reduce oxygen. Avoid spraying water on a grease fire, as it can spread the flames. Stay by the grill. Most grilling fires happen when the cook walks away “just for a minute.” Let coals cool completely. Place ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and keep it outside, away from combustible materials.

“Clean grill, clear space, close watch.” Those three steps prevent a large percentage of grilling incidents.

Thanks for all you do for the community, MLVFD! Residents interested in joining the department or volunteering in various ways, reach out to info@mlvfd.com.

Photographs by Antonietta Henry 

Antonietta Henry is a wife, mother of four, and owner of Antonietta Henry Photography in Pompton Plains. She enjoys exploring and learning more about towns throughout her home state of New Jersey.