The Hawthorne Volunteer Fire Department says it has responded to an unprecedented number of water-related emergencies this summer, prompting the department to push for a new high-water vehicle that could help firefighters respond to flooding more quickly and safely.
Since July 4, the department says it has answered 82 water-related calls, including 51 water rescues. According to Fire Chief Joe Speranza, 58 people and one dog have been rescued from floodwaters during that period.
Speranza says the flooding has become increasingly dangerous and is affecting areas of Hawthorne that typically do not flood.
“We’ve had flooding that is literally in front of our firehouse and almost seven inches of water,” Speranza said.
He said some areas have seen several feet of water around vehicles and homes, leaving residents trapped and in need of immediate help.
During one rescue on Washington Avenue, Speranza said residents and children were surrounded by rising water with no safe way out. Firefighters had to drive a fire truck into the water to reach them and escort them to safety.
The department has also responded to flooding during severe thunderstorms, including an Aug. 7 storm that Speranza described as one of the most intense thunderstorms he has experienced in New Jersey.
While responding to water rescues, firefighters also dealt with lightning strikes, basement flooding and electrical hazards.
Speranza says floodwater presents serious hazards for firefighters entering the water, including submerged or displaced manholes.
Firefighters may use sticks to check the path ahead of them, wear tether lines and use protective equipment when entering floodwaters.
The department also has two boats, but Speranza says deploying one can take about 10 to 15 minutes. That delay can be critical when water is rising rapidly.
During one incident at the Wagner Road underpass, firefighters had to enter the water without their usual dry suits because conditions were changing so quickly. Some residents had to be carried or escorted out.
The department is now asking the borough to acquire a high-water vehicle, which Speranza described as a military-style truck designed to operate in deep water.
Unlike a boat, the vehicle could be driven directly into flooded areas and alongside stranded vehicles.
Firefighters could then tether themselves, approach a vehicle and help victims move directly onto the truck without having to walk through floodwater.
Speranza says the vehicle could carry up to 20 people, while the department’s boats have more limited capacity depending on the conditions and whether firefighters are inside the boat.
He says the larger vehicle would also provide reassurance to people trapped in floodwaters.
“When they see this big truck pulling up, it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m going to be okay,’” Speranza said.
The department has presented the proposal to the borough council and is looking into grants and other possible funding sources. Speranza says the department previously asked about obtaining a high-water vehicle about five years ago but was unable to locate one. He now says the need has become urgent.
“The sooner the better. We can’t wait much longer,” Speranza said.
The department is also dealing with a shortage of volunteer firefighters.
Speranza says the department had about 122 firefighters around the time the COVID-19 pandemic began. That number has since dropped to about 93. He says roughly half of the current firefighters are over 50, while younger members often leave because the area's high cost of living makes it difficult to stay.
The department also has a Ladies Auxiliary of roughly two dozen members who assist with rehabilitation during emergencies, as well as a five-member communications group that can help manage radio traffic when the police department becomes overwhelmed.
Speranza says the shortage is particularly concerning as the department responds to increasingly frequent and severe flooding.
Speranza says the department is closely watching the weather as the region enters the peak of hurricane season.
He stressed that it does not take a hurricane to cause dangerous flooding in Hawthorne. Tropical systems, thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain can quickly overwhelm areas that have historically not flooded.
The department is preparing for additional storms, but Speranza says having a high-water vehicle would give firefighters another tool to respond rapidly when conditions deteriorate.
“It’s a rapid deployment vehicle, and it is much safer than what we’re doing now,” he said.
Speranza credited Hawthorne’s fire, police and EMS personnel for working together during the recent flooding and said the department’s EMS crews respond alongside firefighters during water rescues in case victims experience panic, breathing difficulties or other medical emergencies.