BAYONNE – The Bayonne Fire Department is turning 110 this Saturday. It was founded Sept. 3, 1906 and currently operates out of five fire stations. Bayonne Truck House #1 (pictured) was its first, built in 1875, and added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1976. Today, the city is served around-the-clock by 161 professional full-time firefighters. If you don’t see them out in the field fighting fires or don’t hear their deafening sirens, be assured they’re doing their jobs. You can check our website for updates on their heroics.
The BFD operates a fire apparatus fleet of five engines, three ladders, one squad (rescue pumper), one rescue truck (part of the Metro USAR Collapse Rescue Strike Team), two fireboats, a Multi-Purpose Unit (M.P.U.), a large 4,000-US-gallon (15,000 l; 3,300 imp gal) foam tanker truck, a haz-mat truck,and numerous other special, support and reserve units. Each piece of apparatus is staffed by three fire fighters and a captain. Each platoon works on a 24 hours on, 72 hours off schedule and is commanded by a Battalion Chief. The BFD responds to approximately 17,000 emergency calls annually.