100 Years of Service

Never before, and maybe never again for another hundred years will Oakland see a parade on this scale. The celebration of 100 years of service by The Oakland Fire Department peaked with a parade of fire trucks through town. It was a spectacle of enormous proportions with miles of fire trucks from towns near and far; a testament to the bond volunteer firefighters share that so many came to honor their kindred spirits.

The noise was deafening, blocking out daily concerns and vibrating the inner core of all who came out on this cloudy Saturday morning. The unending line of fire trucks, their flashing lights, blaring sirens, and uniformed members was an awesome display of readiness and strength. The festivities continued down at the Oakland Recreational fields where the sea of blue uniforms mixed with friends, families, neighbors and residents from surrounding towns who came out to show support and appreciation. There was food for all and malted grain for those of age. For the younger set, there were rides and games for the kids.

But with all the “apparatus” on parade, and a modern world’s awareness of fire prevention, there is always a real danger in the work of volunteers. It is a danger confronted by volunteers in the towns of Oakland, Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes; volunteers willing to serve without pay, serve with their hearts, bravely, effectively and eagerly. Hours of training, hours of service, and hours fighting fires are given back to our communities. In return, volunteers learn truths that can only be learned in a baptism by fire.

Another noticeable detail during the parade were the number of lucky kids who got to ride in the fire trucks. It was a clear reminder that a 100 year tradition of service often rests upon family traditions. A tradition that goes back a hundred years in Oakland, and back to the birth of America whose founding fathers were instrumental in fostering in the new nation. It is a strong tradition in many volunteer families, and residents should remember that traditions must begin somewhere and the local departments in Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes and Oakland are always seeking new members.

In the last few weeks, our local volunteers have responded to house fires, car fires, car accidents and other emergency requests that reflect the special skills and training needed by our volunteers. This past summer saw Oakland and Franklin Lakes first responders called into the Ramapo Mountain State Forest. The most recent incident involved a severly injured ATV rider trapped in perilous terrain requiring fire department appartus to raise him to safety after which he was transported by helicopter to Hackensack Hospital. The first call to the Ramapo Mountain State Forest was in July and ended tragically as Oakland volunteers retrieved the body of a drowning victim from 12 feet of water.

Visit the website of your local volunteer fire department to learn more about recent emergency responses and how to get involved. If you cannot afford to give of your time, monetary donations help keep our volunteers well trained and equipped, and help keep our communities safe.