Millburn Fire Department Still Accepting Donations Of Old Cars

MILLBURN, NJ — The following article, submitted on Friday, comes courtesy of the Millburn Fire Department. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

The Millburn Fire Department is continuing to accept donations of old cars and is also seeking houses to be used for firefighter training exercises.

The Fire Department uses old cars to practice vehicle extrication, which is the process of gaining access to a victim who is trapped inside a vehicle. According the National Safety Council, traffic fatalities continue to rise nationwide — which highlights the need for first responders to be as well-equipped as possible. Using an actual car provides the opportunity for firefighters to practice different techniques, and to see how their life-saving cutting and spreading equipment reacts in real-world situations.

The Department can use homes scheduled for demolition. During training exercises, the Fire Department fills the home with theatrical smoke to practice searching for a victim or lost firefighter. The Department also uses these structures to practice identifying where to open holes in ceilings and walls to search for hidden fire, and cutting holes in roofs to vent smoke. Firefighters can also use these properties to practice safety and survival techniques, such as how to rescue a firefighter who has become trapped.

"Ensuring the safety not only of our community residents, but also our hardworking firefighters, is a vital priority for us," said Captain Adam Brenner of the Millburn Fire Department, who oversees training programs. "For this reason, we constantly train our firefighters on the latest safety and rescue techniques available. Your generous donation can make a very real difference in helping us save lives in an emergency."

Those interested in making a donation can contact Captain Brenner, at (973) 564-7044 or abrenner@millburntwp.org.

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Photo: MFD