Fallen Tree Meets Chainsaws During Montclair FD Storm Rescue

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair firefighters’ lifesaving skills were put to the test during Tuesday’s storm, which hit the area with heavy rain and winds and tore down trees across Essex County.

Montclair Deputy Chief Robert Duncan said that MFD firefighters were involved in two separate rescues took place on Tuesday.

• See related article: Several Montclair Roads Still Closed Following Storm

TRAPPED IN GLEN RIDGE

Around 5:02 p.m., the Montclair Fire Department received a call reporting that a tree fell on top of a car on Bloomfield Avenue in Glen Ridge, trapping the sole occupant inside the vehicle.

Montclair fire officials didn’t immediately have information about the identity of the victim, Duncan said.

When fire crews arrived on the scene – which turned out to actually be on High Street in Glen Ridge – they found a tree crushing a Volkswagen Jetta, collapsing the metal around the occupant. And that’s when Montclair firefighters put their training to the test, Duncan said.

“In order to gain access to the vehicle, MFD [crews] had to first use chainsaws to remove sections of the tree. They were then able to use hydraulic rescue tools (Jaws of Life) to spread and cut the vehicle away from the occupant. They then used a hydraulic ram to lift he tree enough to raise the dashboard to free the occupant’s legs, which were pinned beneath.”

The Glen Ridge Volunteer Ambulance Unit stabilized the victim and transported them to a nearby hospital, Duncan said.

MILLBURN COACH, PARENT RESCUED

Montclair firefighters also rescued a Millburn assistant baseball coach and a player’s parent after a fallen tree covered their cars with live wires on Tuesday, a report says.

Millburn assistant baseball coach Joey Kropa and parent J.J. Abbott were rescued from their vehicles when the storm canceled the Super Essex Conference game between Millburn and Montclair at Woodman Field, NJ.com reported.

The players were on their bus when the wires came down and were never in danger, Millburn head baseball coach Brian Chapman told NJ.com.

“It went from pleasant and us batting in the top of the second inning to dark and trees crashing to the ground in like two-and-a-half minutes,” Chapman told NJ.com. “It was scary and harrowing. After those trees and branches came down, it looked like a war zone.” (Read the full article here)

ESSEX COUNTY HIT HARD BY STORM

A severe thunderstorm warning was declared for eight counties in the state until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, including Essex. Forecasters with the National Weather Service warned about flash flooding, strong winds and large hail.

• See related article: Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Warnings In New Jersey

According to poweroutage.us, 3,220 out of 337,962 PSE&G customers in Essex County were still without power as of Wednesday morning.

In Essex County, several towns reported downed wires and closed roads including Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Maplewood, Montclair and Verona.

• See related article: Several Essex County Towns Report Downed Power Lines In Storm

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Photos: Montclair Fire Department

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