PRE ARRIVAL FULLY INVOLVED TWO ALARM STRUCTURE FIRE Brick New Jersey 6/15/23 

Cause of the fire update. - At 11:15 A.M. today we responded to a call for a house fire on 19th Ave. A neighbor called to report the fire after seeing flames come out of the windows. When first responders arrived the house was engulfed. The fire was apparently caused by one of the dogs knocking over a candle. Both dogs were safe and there were no injuries from the fire or from firefighting efforts. Officers and Fire Fighters acted quickly, notifying JCP&L, NJNG, the school buses and the building department, and ensuring a safe perimeter around the scene. Laurelton, Herbertsville, Breton Woods and Pioneer Hose fire companies all responded and after two hours the fire was under control. Additionally, the Brick Township Fire Bureau and the Point Boro FAST team responded to assist with the investigation and administration of the scene, and our EMTs were there to provide emergency medical support, which was thankfully not needed. Chief Forrester would like to thank all the responders who helped get a dangerous situation under control and commend everyone on a job well done.

Pro Tip: Studies have shown that putting water on a fire helps to put it out.

The photographer should have a fire truck park at is place 24/7. He is way faster than the fire department.

For a community of over 70,000 people to not have a full-time staffed and professional fire department is incredibly insane and embarrassing.

As a retired FF, we always arrived on scene completely suited up and ready to go. We were really out of sorts if we did not have water flowing within minutes. Volunteer all the way and our response time was always quick and efficient. will have to digest what i see here and wonder where the training went...if any

As a 26 year veteran of the fire service this is extremely difficult and painful too watch!!! The lack of communication, professionalism, and response time really showed in this video. A 15+ minute response time even in a volunteer department within a urban environment is totally unacceptable. That house could have possibly been saved if they had got on scene and had some urgency on getting water on the fire. Yes I know the fire was chasing through the attic.

That poor woman lost everything. I am so sorry, my heart goes out to you and your family.

Highly populated urban area. Why is there not a fully staffed and paid professional fire department? No way would I feel safe living in an area like this. This community deserves better.

I'm sure the lady is thrilled about the speedy response of the camera brigade. It's amazing how disorganized this was considering the brass was there like 15 minutes prior to everyone else.

The theory is that if you wait long enough you won't have to use much water. It'll burn its self out when it runs out of house.

These guys are the best foundation savers on all of RU-vid, video after video taking 5min or more to get at least 1 line in service. Excellent work fellas

I'll buy that cop a coffee! Cheers for getting that dog out of the way 😍

Staggered to see how long it took for first fire engine to arrive. Why didn't neighbours respond with hoses much earlier? A smaller tanker arriving much faster might have delayed the final engulfment of the entire house till the larger units arrived.

The response time of a fire truck was crazy just crazy, you had fire personnel onscene without a engine for a good while before an engine ever decided to show up

As a 24yr. vet.they so slow putting out this fire.

Absolutely disgraceful. Just the response time in a community that is certainly not even semi rural is unacceptable.

I spent 35yrs as a volunteer working my way to Asst Chief... aside from the obvious, (response times, lack of urgency to get water on fire, lack of communication from command to 1st arriving, lack of donned SCBA and the ready position. etc) . i want to address the first arriving FC Officers that stood around and did nothing but point! As i heard the pump operator give his countdown of water supply left, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4,,,,,,,,,, and the camera panned to see that the supply line was still on the engine!!! why didnt they meet that engine and assist with deploying a supply line??? why didn't the IC relay to the engine, the plug location so they could hit it on the way in?? why open a deck gun and hit the roof top?? make the D side window a door and flow up under the roof with a 2 1/2!! so many variables happen here!!

It’s crazy watching this fire start in a bedroom then quickly consume this entire house . I never take shots at any 2departments but this fire response was really really bad . This fire should have never gotten past the original room of origin . 12 mins and still no apparatus on location . If this fire had a life hazard or even a exposure problem it wouldn’t have ended well . I completely understand that volunteer departments have a tough time getting trucks on the street at different points of the day , but if it’s this bad the chief of this department needs to really sit down and adjust the alarms and who he has responding on dwelling/building fires . From 6am to 6pm they should add more departments on the initial response . Maybe even run a full second alarm during their slowest hours . This is completely unacceptable. Maybe the people who live in this town need to attend a town meeting and voice their concerns. Something has to change here

You did a great job covering this " cluster *%#@. I can't add anything to the notes Greg left. I was a volunteer from 1976 until 2006. we had some long halls to the edge of our first due, but we never had a response time like this. Keep up the good work. Your videos put me right on the fireground with you. God Bless...

It’s always heart breaking to watch the structures become totally engulfed before water is ever applied.

I think perhaps Brick Township has grown too big to have an all-volunteer FD. If they were a combination dept. at least a couple of rigs might have reached the scene in reasonable time.

I lost count of how many FD cars were on the scene but if they staffed an Engine Company with even half of those guys they'd have better luck getting water on the fire instead of standing around watching it burn. Priorities in operations make a difference.

A shame they lost everything but they saved the dog ❤

This was so painful to watch. I was a volunteer ff for a long time when I was young and the response time for equipment on scene was disgraceful. This was a disorganized mess. My heartfelt sympathy to this poor lady.

Thank God the dog was safe and the poor lady, it brought tears to my eyes when the lady was asking where the fire brigade were, a friend of mine lost his house to a fire, and every one got out of the but his poor little dogs went back into the house and died.

Great video. Thanks for the update. Glad the dogs are ok. I would never have open flame candles with all the safer things to us these day...🤗🤗

I spent 20 years as a volunteer. In my department you needed to be able to drive the engine before being eligible to be an officer and the first and second officers to sign on determined right away who was closest to the firehouse and then used his lights/siren to go to get the first engine rolling. Volunteers only had a simple blue light so traffic was often an issue. If a volly driver got the rig rolling first then the officer changed direction or continued to get a second rig rolling as needed. It was all about communication. Always get a rig on the road asap. Of course Jersey traffic may well have contributed to the long response.

Fire department response time??? Totally unacceptable !

I am embarrassed for them.

What should have been a simple room and contents knockdown turned into a surround and drown total loss.

If they wait a little longer it will just work itself out

Thank God all are alive and that sweet pit pup 🐾❤️👍🏻

I was a volunteer for a small Department that had staffing problems on the day shift. The full-time Chief would sometimes show up by himself and start fighting the fire until other personnel and mutual aid arrived. Much better than those guys standing around.

I wonder how many people with Chief cars and POV drove by a station and truck to get on scene first.

I feel for the homeowner. Had they had an engine there in the first 4 or 5 minutes, they could have saved the house. As it is, total loss. Of course, you don't know how long the fire was burning before someone called 911- all the more reason to have fire systems in the house that automatically notify. Sad situation. Hopefully insurance takes care of them. Glad no one got hurt. Things can be replaced, lives can't.

I live in a super rural part of northern Michigan with a volunteer fire department covering an ENTIRE COUNTY. The average response from tones to water on fire is 7 minutes. That’s 3 fire houses in one department covering 360 square miles and they have a better response time. This departments response is shameful and should be addressed by the state. Just awful

I'm so happy those dogs are safe, and that those officers rescued them.. one of my biggest worries is my girl not getting rescued if our house ever goes up

Just so everyones aware Brick Township FD is 100% all volunteer, there was one chief for brick that responded. The other fire officers are Brick Township Fire Marshalls, all they carry is packs and turnout gear. (3) of them arrived before the first due engine cause they happen to be in the area. 2471 is the nearest engine but due to members being spread out across the town this day they got the engine out slower then normal. Also this fire went into Monmouth County dispatch first so there was least a 5 min delay from them to Brick Township getting the info and dispatching their units.

It might be time to start trading in the fancy Chief vehicles for a mini-pumper as the Chief response vehicle. It would be more practical and at least would guarantee water on scene (at least temporarily)

This puts into perspective the waiting time before water starts to flow on the fire. It seems an eternity but how fast that fire moved through that house! Scary footage! Get your loved ones out and rebuild.

Unbelievable. A simple room & contents goes to a surround and drown before any water is on the fire. A full 20 minutes in and the original room is still fully involved. Well, it’s good that their perfect foundation save record is still good. Never seen so many white helmets in all my life!! Was there a chiefs convention nearby or something??

If they just would have had a crew of RU-vid firefighters that fire would have been out 30 seconds after the 911 call

I guess herbertsville didn't learn from the first time they didn't pick up the hydrant with the first due

That poor homeowner. I’d be hysterical.

It was almost like a control burn it took way to long for a water truck to show. That went from a bedroom fire to a complete loss 😤😤😤

Excellent coverage again . Stay safe out there

If you won’t pay for career response times, then you should expect to get volunteer responses…no knock on these guys, but people want a 3 min response time but aren’t willing to pay for it…the consequences are predictable.

You would think this was the first fire that they were called to. My department always showed up geared up ,masked up and ready to go. All I can say is one word…TRAINING!,, it works

My biggest Question is why the First in Engine didn't grab the hydrant, if you listen to the radio traffic, multiple units were asked to grab the hydrant and in the end they Hand Jacked it anyway, Ive worked in Rural Voly and Class 1 Departments and this just seemed to be a cluster

This is the first fire that I've watched where there are suited up firemen walking around, and no fire engines on scene! I can hear the Chief asking,"where's my first engine?"

Crazy how long it took them to actually put water on the fire?! They got nice pretty trucks and lots of firemen wandering around not doing anything, why did it take them so long to turn water on? It's so ridiculous we all thought it was a training house fire that they just let burn? I feel very sad for homeowner😢

The excessive response time and lack of motivation and hustle in these guys makes my local fire department look like super stars (which they are). Volunteer or not these guys need some serious training. Been a first responder myself and I would’ve been fired numerous times over had I moved this slow on scene.

THIS ENTIRE VIDEO IS AN EYE OPENER FOR ALL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, NOT JUST P.D. From the comments below on other emergency services in that area, sounds like the entire County needs new management. 30mins is unacceptable for an Ambulance to get to the address.

Maybe one of those chiefs should try going to a firehouse and getting a rig on the street instead of rushing to the scene in a chase car only to stand around for 10 minutes waiting for a suppression unit.

Two thumbs up Greg! It does prove an important point. I was reading an article where a contractor was trying to dispell the 7 minute escape time once a smoke detector is tripped. Watching the time line on this video, it would have been difficult for anyone to get out at the 5 minute mark. At 10 minutes this place was fully involved. Contractors need to watch this video and take a lesson!

Oh look at the lovely doggy 🐶 Rolling over for a belly rub. No time for belly rubs doggy, we have to watch your house burn down.

Unfortunately this fire was interrupting the fire department coffee break. Took them a good hour to figure out that they needed to put water on the fire. By the time they figured it out the loss was total! Have to get permission from the Planning Commission to decide if they can put the fire out! I would be ashamed to show my face if I was on that fire call. Absolutely pathetic!!

Response time to this fire was painfully slow. How is that possible? Respect to firefighters, always, how it took so long to get at this fire, I don’t understand.

when the office of emergency management shows up before there is water on the fire... time to re-evaluate staffing and SOPs

I have nothing but respect for Police and fireman, very tough jobs. But with that being said, that felt like a very long response time.

The videographer is AMAZING! Steady, consistent and calm. Well done! It can't be easy recording so steadily under such traumatic circumstances!

Anybody hear the Chief tell the 1st due to grab the hydrant? They didn’t and ran out of tank water. Wonder if that made a difference.

Hopefully they can use this as a training video on what NOT to do at a fire. Glad I don’t live anywhere near this town! The whole department should be retrained.

As a volunteer it was sad to see no one was really ready to battle the fire. The lax of just taking ur time to suit up and no lines in the ground to battle exterior while someone was suiting up with a interior line waiting

Well I guess it's safe to say that this is the reason why candles should NOT be left unattended and I'm sure the fire marshal would agree with me on that. As someone who knows about fire safety, ALWAYS extinguish candles before leaving the house or before going to bed at night. DO NOT leave lit candles unattended.

All those firemen but no truck. WOW Did they forget to get it.

Can be a number of things, house location from the fire house, how many members were at work or sleeping from doing the late shift, and the biggest is the amount of TRAINING they do as a department. If there is NO training being conducted then that is WRONG, it should be the priority of the department to be proficient when answering the call. My VFD trains every other Saturday on various tactics and we have vacant structures to use from locals donated to use as training sites. It helps us in our training and helps them clear out the property for further development.

Thank God everybody's safe❤

Glad no one was home at the time, and that their dog was rescued. Boy that fire was really blowing out those windows, when the video started. Thank you to all firefighters everywhere for protecting the citizens of your coverage area.

I’m guessing across the US many people don’t realize that small towns, villages & rural areas are supported by volunteers. Most volunteers have full time jobs or other duties. In order for an engine to respond to a call you need someone at or near the firehouse, who is certified to operate that vehicle, to respond to the call. In today’s society there are just not enough volunteers. To be involved as a fireman, you need training & that never ends. It is a huge commitment. In our area, mutual aid is often utilized, as appears it did here, but the response time is that much longer. More need to be willing to volunteer, if they are physically able to do the job. Here those who can’t do the job any longer, due to age &/or injury, still are utilized in tasks like directing traffic away from the scene. More effort needs to be put into getting the younger generations involved. This is not a job just for the guys, gals can do it as well. Support your local department, both financially & with your time. Can the town support even just a driver for at least one truck to respond? This could be your house. What would the response time be if you had a fire in your home? Have fire extinguishers handy & make sure they are full. Fire detectors should be functioning. Take precautions in the home. Thank you all who are first responders!

Brunacini would eat your lunch. Every video never fails to be a complete embarrassment! Best training videos to show the new and the old of what NOT to do.

Nice to see the many firefighters walking and enjoying the sight. Who is actually responsible for spraying water?

I like how after 11 minutes the first engine arrives and still no water don't rush guys

Glad that no one was home and that PD was able to get the dog away from the house and to safety. Thank you to all firefighters everywhere for protecting the citizens of your coverage area.

Fantastic job filming. Thank you for the great coverage. Blessings to all first responders. Please everyone stay safe.

Let's stop and hope everyone is doing ok right let' honor and appreciate the paramedics and firemen who proudly serve us your service and time and efforts are deeply appreciated thanks great job great team work and great and sweet catches as usual still going strong great team efforts are deeply appreciated thanks to everyone who responds and is involved stay safe and warm out much love and respect and appreciation job well done you should be amazed and proud way to go !! Joe 😅😅😊😊

Best inground pool installation video on RU-vid

Thanks for posting. You always put yourself out there when you do. Long response times now days mean the house is gone, but with current home furnishings they go pretty fast anyway. Even after that house was burning 10 minutes its probably a total loss anyway. It was good no one one trapped inside. I found the video educational as far as how the fire progressed and when the structure was too weakened to be safe. it is just a fact that it is harder to retain volunteers, and a day time may find your staff unavailable. The general public in a volunteer area need to realize what their local department is capable of and if they want faster service then they will have to find the money to have staffed fire houses. Cheers.

New Jersey loves to tax hike everyone why don’t they staff paid in with the volunteers. I mean the residents deserve it since they can pay up to 15k+ just in property taxes each year. Unbelievable!

Ex vol firefighter here... Since a lot of fire depts assign chiefs and assistant chiefs a car or suv to drive to the scene with, why not assign them a pickup truck with a pump/booster reel/tank skid mounted on it. Since they arrive at the scene first, let them put some water on the fire before the fire engine gets there.

Complete loss. I feel sorry for the family living here.

Wow, that was painful to watch. The fireman walking up to the burning structure and just staring at it was odd. Zero hustle from anyone on that fire ground.

I'm a little late to comment on this post so I think the issue with response time and urgency has been covered. I'm not a firefighter so I do want to ask why they felt the need to chainsaw the exterior walls to expand the window openings...after the bulk of the fire had been knocked down(?).

They deserve alot of credit tons of it let's honor and appreciate the paramedics and firemen who proudly serve us your service and time and efforts are deeply appreciated thanks and also including the police who helped saved the dog great job great team work and great and sweet catches as usual still going strong great team efforts are deeply appreciated thanks lets stop and hope everyone is doing ok right stay safe and warm out there love you guys thanks its a service we can't live without right ?!!!: Joe

got to love the asbestoses siding and oil base paint neither failed from the fire

I can kind of understand that lady's anxiety when she kept asking where the fire department was. I was involved in a fire a little over two years ago. I live in a mobile Home Park and two houses down a fire started and it burnt his place down and it burnt my neighbors down and another 60 seconds more and mine would have been up in flames but the fire department got there just in time... I just had some minor heat damage thankfully

All volunteer department. Called in from work, school, etc. Taxpayers choose not to have a full time paid department, and this is what happens. and we STILL pay very high taxes in NJ.

Don't know how you do it. Everyone makes me feel bad for all the loss. Good videos.

Lots of critique on this page from fellow firefighters with good intent. I am not one but will make a reminder that the most important job of the fire department is to save lives and most people who die in a fire die from smoke inhalation and usually will do so in the first 5 to 7 minutes of the fire and thus the reason why quick response times are so important. Putting out the fire is only secondary but still important so as to mitigate property damage in a safe manner. Improving systemically poor response times should be a key conversation for the community regardless if a paid or volunteer fire department. Plenty of blame to go around and much of it not even directed at the guys working at the scene. Hopefully the homeowner has good hazard insurance and very good to hear no injuries.

Why did they not use the deck gun earlier?

4:30 Fire officers start showing up. 5:15 EMS is on location. 10:01 First Engine arrives with no supply line. 11:35 water is finally on the fire. You would think that one of the 4 officers on location could have gone to the station and gotten the Engine out instead of just standing there watching the fire engulf the entire house for 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Totally unacceptable for the tax payers of this town to have fire officials just standing around while you house goes from a room and contents fire to a fully involved house.

Prayers for the homeowners

I'm going to be controversial and say there is actually a lot to like here. The elephant in the room is of course response time for the first engine, but that is a function of staffing and geography and I really can't speak to it. In my very rural district there are more than a few places that we would have no chance if reaching in less than 15 minutes at the best of times. This looks more suburban, but for all we know it may be the house furthest from the station. Once the engine arrived on scene, it was 1:07 from airbrake to flowing water, and that is pretty damn good. Crews were masked up at the door when they got water and got a quick knockdown. I am also glad to see they used their tank water rather than waiting for a supply to start fighting fire. It wasn't enough to knock down the whole house, but still took a lot of the energy out of the fire. Once they had a decent water supply (which took stretching several blocks by the sound of it) they put several lines in service and killed it. Love the purple hose BTW All in all I've seen a lot worse.

Bless that officer. He didn't freak out cause it was a pitt dog. So sorry to the home owner. I can not imagine how your feeling. You just lived my worse fear as i have several pets. May God bless you and give you strength for the lose of your home.

Why does it take them so long to get an engine on scene? If that happened in my area, there would be 10 engines, 30 firefighters and 15 hoses stretched in like 90 seconds 😅

I'm sure those fire-fighters that first arrived on scene, at least 10 min before a single fire truck got there were very frustrated. I know here at a station where a district chief is posted, the engine company goes out first. The chief, can't put water on the fire. The ladder truck can, but it's slow and less maneuverable than the engine. When my elderly mom fell and broke her hip, she was home alone at the time. She called me at work, at least 20 minutes away. I called 911 for her. The volunteer fire department that serves her area, had first responders on scene and getting her checked out, while I was still talking to the 911 operator. Very shortly thereafter an ambulance and paramedics from the closest full-time professional fire department arrived to transport her to a hospital staffed with an orthopedic surgeon. I was so grateful for their quick response.

This is a good training video for other firehouses.

Im glad i dont live around there. Very slow response.

I was waiting for the firefighters to break out the marshmallows.. its as if they were enjoying watching it go up..

Great catch on the video!