The Police Department continues to investigate a suspicious incident that occurred on Friday, December 7, 2007 at 9:02 PM at a Mt. Harmony Road residence. In this incident two men knocked on the front door of a single family residence and identified themselves as Bernardsville Firemen. They indicated that they needed to speak with the homeowner. One of the men displayed a "fake looking" fireman's badge to the homeowner. The homeowner refused to open the door and told them they were calling the police. The men then immediately left the area prior to arrival of the Police. The Bernardsville Fire Chief has told Police no one was at the residence at the time the incident occurred.

Police are asking anyone with information or knowledge of similar incidents to contact the Detective Bureau at (908) 766- 0037.

In response to this incident, the Bernardsville Fire Company would like to remind residents that we do NOT solicit donations door to door and assure you that the men in question are NOT members of the Fire Company or First Aid Squad. Click here for a copy of the press statement released by the BPD.

Stay Safe this Holiday Season

Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in reminding all residents there are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following the recommended precautionary tips of the USFA, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty. Quick and easy to follow precautions can be found at www.usfa.dhs.gov.

“On behalf of all firefighters, we desire for everyone to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season in 2007,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. “The USFA has joined with other national organizations to provide these easy to use and understand safety precautions. Following these simple precautions will ensure our firefighters and communities avoid tragic and sad losses from fires.”

It might surprise some that cooking equipment, most often a range or stovetop, is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Cooking equipment is also the leading cause of unreported fires and associated injuries. Serious injury or even death can occur when people cook wearing loose clothing (especially hanging sleeves), walk away from a cooking pot on the stove, or leave flammable materials, such as potholders or paper towels, around the stove. Whether you are cooking the family holiday dinner or a snack for the children, practicing safe cooking behaviors will help keep you and your family safe.

Additionally, more than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves, and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels. Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan. For additional information, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov.

Started by local business owner Lisa Howard, (Pancakes and Jelly in Olcott Square), Choose-a-Charity provides a great opportunity for you to support your local fire company at no cost to yourself.

Here is how it works:

Local retailers are asked by Choose-a-Charity to sign up to donate a percentage of sales to charity. Local non-profit ogranizations, like the Bernardsville Fire Company, can sign up to become recipients of these donations.

That is where you come in. Residents wishing to participate are given key-tags, just like you carry for the grocery stores. Any time you shop at a participating retailer, present your key-tag to the merchant at the time of payment. A percentage of the proceeds from your purchase of qualifying items will be donated to the charity of your choice.

If you are a retailer and wish to register as a participating merchant, please go to Choose-a-Charity for more information and instructions.

If you would like to receive a key-tag, stop by the firehouse on Minebrook Rd. any Monday night after 7:00pm or call the firehouse at 908.766.6625 and leave us a message indicating that you would like to receive a key-tag along with your name, address, and phone number.

Choose-a-Charity is a brand-new program and the Bernardsville Fire Company is excited to participate in and promote their initiative. For now the number of participating retailers is limited. Look for the Choose-a-Charity logo to find out if your favorite store is signed up. If not, why not suggest to them that they do?

In addition to the chiefs, other members elected to fill officer positions 2008 are: Dan Hart (Foreman 22-103); Randy Steinkopf (Foreman 22-135); Scott McKay (Foreman 22-102); G.K. Wilson (Foreman 22-104, 22-141).