Telegraph Fire Alarm Box News
This section will list all telegraph fire alarm related news...whether good news, such as a box pulled for a fire, or bad news, such as a box system being removed. And now.....the news:
January 7, 2010 - Apparently, the Colonia Fire District in Woodbridge, NJ had removed their telegraph fire alarm box system in 2006. I had taken a trip down to Colonia to see about the system in April, 2006 and saw the boxes on the telephone poles. I visited the firehouse, but no one was around. Emails to the Colonia FD have gone unanswered. While visiting their website, I read in the history section that the boxes were removed in 2006 (obviously after my visit). So, we can now move the Colonia system from active to retired. By the way, the same lame excuses were provided in the decision to remove the system. Colonia Fire Department
November 8, 2009 - I found this article on the internet and thought that it would be a good idea to post it here. Sadly, three people died due to a reported typographical error made by a 9-1-1 dispatcher. The article does not state why the error was made, whether it was due to a connection problem, a dropped call, background noise, etc. Please read the article and draw your own conclusions. 911's 'fatal typo'
October 19, 2009 TEANECK, NJ - Master Box 968 was activated at 18:15 hours, when the building's sprinkler system was activated for a fire in the building, in Unit 309. Companies arrived to find a small fire held in check in a 4 story wood frame occupied multiple dwelling. More info to follow.
August 11, 2009 - BOGOTA, NJ - Box 342 - Bogota Ambulance Corps, was pulled today at 17:01 hours. First arriving units found a person at the box person requiring medical assistance with a severe injury. EMS was notified and transported the victim.
May 12, 2009 - WEST PATERSON, NJ (a.k.a. WOODLAND PARK, NJ) - If you still believe that Gamewell boxes are ancient and beyond their practical use, check this story out from the www.northjersey.com, the webpage for the Record & Herald News Newspaper. After reading the article, ask yourself if their use is still required. Fortunately, the towns affected both still have operating telegraph box alarm systems.
May 9, 2009 - While the town affected has no Gamewell boxes, nor an outdoor alerting system, such as a diaphone, this article is a SOLID reason why telegraph boxes and Outdoor alerting systems ARE STILL A NECESSITY in today's modern technological world: Firehouse Magazine Article
April 20, 2009 - MILLBURN, NJ - Today marks the end if an era in Millburn, as the Gamewell system was placed out of service and the boxes and pedestals removed. Some master boxes remain affixed to buildings, but are bagged and waiting to be removed. The system dates as far back as the late 1800's. Details are sketchy as to why the system was placed out of service. It is known that at the time of removal, the system was operating properly and had no boxes out of service. One can only speculate as to the reasoning for removing the system.
The Millburn Fire Department is a paid department, located in the Southwest corner of Essex County, New Jersey. As is evident with other paid departments, runs decrease with the removal of these systems. Thus, you can expect, especially in this time of a recession that the Township of Millburn, in an attempt to cut back on spending, can look to either close a firehouse or cut back manpower since the lower call volume will not justify the need for the number of firefighters. Its sad to say that, but that is what happens. In the City of Bayonne, New Jersey a few years ago, soon after their system was removed, the city closed one engine company and one truck company. Just recently, a city council member discussed the possibility of making the Bayonne Fire Department a volunteer department! Elizabeth New Jersey removed their system this past year, and their call volume has dropped. In looking at some box lists from 50 years ago, I see that the Passaic Fire Department had 6 engine companies and a Gamewell system. Today, they are down to 4 engine companies and no Gamewell system. I only wish that paid cities that still have the telegraph alarm systems in service would fight to keep these systems.
March 25, 2009 - LITTLE FALLS, NJ - At 17:54 hours, Box 21 (Zeliff & Arlington Avenues) was pulled. Upon hearing the fire horns tapping out Box 21, firefighters responded to their firehouses. As firefighters were arriving at their firehouses, Little Falls Fire Dispatch received a telephone alarm of fire from Little Falls Police reporting a house fire at 36 Zeliff Avenue. Moments later, L.F.P.D. arrived on scene and reported a heavy smoke condition on the #2 floor. At 17:56 hours, Assistant Chief 2-0 arrived on scene confirming a working house fire. Engine 3 arrived at 17:59 and stretched a line to the second floor, keeping the fire confined to one room.
The first notification of fire was the box, transmitting its box number over the telegraph lines and sounding the Township's Leslie Super-Tyfon horns. Firefighters were already responding as the emergency call arrived at Little Falls Fire Dispatch, resulting in a quicker response, limiting the fire to one room in the house.
Box 21, located at Zeliff & Arlington Avenues (the driveway to the park was once Arlington Avenue) is in a flood prone area of Little Falls. During long, heavy rains, rising waters from the nearby Passaic River flood the roads in the area, with water at times submerging the box, which is placed about 5 feet of the ground. It is not uncommon for this box to be underwater during the severe floods.
April 23. 2008 - RUTHERFORD, NJ - A man walking his dog along Lincoln Avenue noticed smoke coming from the rear basement level of Pierrepont School. He then pulled Box 123 and proceeded to walk his dog. At 18:43 hours, the Rutherford Fire Department was dispatched to E. Pierrepont & Lincoln Avenues for a box alarm. Rutherford PD was also dispatched and saw the man down the street from the box. When the police approached, he advised the officer that he pulled the box and saw smoke coming from the school. First arriving officers saw smoke emanating from the rear, but was blocked by a locked gate. Engine 2 arrived first due, forced entry through the locked gates and found bushes and mulch on fire against the building. The fire was quickly knocked down with water cans and the area overhauled with a trash line. No damage was sustained to the building. In this day of cell phones, land lines, and Voice over Internet Protocol, the only notification of the fire was from a telegraph fire alarm box. The Gamewell fire alarm box system continues to prove its worth. The cause of the fire appears accidental in nature.
