3 NJ Firefighters Killed On Duty; Lawmakers Push For Safety Upgrades

NEW JERSEY — A package of proposed laws that would beef up safety protocols for New Jersey’s firefighters has been unveiled, invoking the name of three emergency responders who recently died in the line of duty.

It was a year ago to the day that Newark fire captains Augusto “Augie” Acabou, 45, and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr., 49, lost their lives while battling a cargo ship blaze at Port Newark, leaving a city in mourning.

In January, Plainfield firefighter Marques Hudson – a father of three – tragically succumbed to injuries that he sustained while battling a fire at a two-family home.

Now, advocates and lawmakers are pushing for a package of proposed state laws that they say will help to prevent future tragedies – and give vital assistance to the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The bills’ sponsors are hoping to get the legislative package on the books by fall, they said (see the full list below).

For Sen. Britnee Timberlake (NJ-34), who helped to spearhead the package of bills, there is a personal angle: her spouse is a firefighter in Newark. But others have joined the call for action, she pointed out, including federal, state, and city legislators, firefighter unions, municipal officials, the Coast Guard and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

“The tragic Port Newark fire last year and the earlier house fire in Plainfield this year are sobering reminders of the dedication, duty, and sacrifice our valiant uniformed personnel display every day,” Timberlake said.

“This extensive legislative package written with experts a part of the coalition, will aid all firefighters and their families throughout the state while also supporting Newark's fire department, which safeguards the state’s largest airport and seaport,” Timberlake said, adding that the late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. was also a supporter of the proposed laws.

Assemblywoman Linda Carter (NJ-22), called Acabou, Brooks and Hudson “the finest among New Jersey’s first responders.”

“By championing legislative measures that ameliorate the emotional toll on surviving families and that also address the root causes of these fires, we, as a legislature, will begin the hard but necessary first steps to make certain that those who die in the line of duty in our state did not die in vain,” Carter said.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, another supporter of the bills, said they will “honor the sacrifice of our fallen firefighters” by increasing funding for new technology, more training and better firehouse infrastructure.

“Anything that we can do to improve the security of our firefighters is an important investment,” Baraka said.

Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp is also backing the bill package.

“My heart and action goes out to the family of Plainfield firefighter Marques Hudson and all affected by the tragic house fire in our community this past January,” Mapp said. “I also send condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the fire at Port Newark.”

“The loss we have suffered is immense, and our city stands united in action of Sen. Timberlake and Assemblywoman Linda Carter, Mayor Baraka, and the rest of the fire coalition,” Mapp added.

Other supporters of the proposed laws include Sen. Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight of the state’s 29th District, and Sen. Renee Burgess, Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker and Assemblywoman Garnet Hall of the 28th District.

THE BILLS

Timberlake’s office provided the following summary of the proposed bills:

Three bills in the package would help to better prepare firefighters for their careers at the applicant, training, and professional level

• S-3426: Requires the Civil Service Commission to establish a mentoring program for civil service firefighter applicants in low-income areas. Aspiring firefighters who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds often face greater obstacles to enter the firefighting profession, such as a lack of professional connections or access to preparatory programs. This bill would help diversify the firefighter population and offer guidance for individuals seeking positions within a fire department.
• S-3428: Requires that both paid and volunteer firefighters who serve in municipalities within a coastal zone complete a Coast Guard approved marine firefighting training course.
• S-3423: Requires that standards for organization and deployment for career firefighters be consistent with national standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, which includes staffing ratios. This would help prevent local units from relaxing firefighter safety requirements due to variables like finances or political concerns.

Two bills in the package would secure funding to upgrade firefighting equipment and fire station infrastructure and provide for maintenance of certain fire departments

• S-3476: Establishes a grant program to provide thermal imaging equipment and body cameras to certain fire departments. Thermal imaging equipment allows firefighters to see through thick smoke and heat-permeable barriers, significantly improving their ability to locate victims and navigate through a blaze. While body camera video may not always be visible due to smoke, the audio can serve as documentation of a fire and can help to better understand what happened if requested.
• S-XXXX (number not yet assigned): This bill seeks to appropriate funds for the development of a Fire Station Rehabilitation, Machinery Upgrade, and Maintenance Fund for fire departments serving populations of 300,000 or more in the State, ensuring a safe and sanitary environment for the State’s firefighters.

Two bills in the package would adjust compensation benefits provided to surviving families in the event of in the line of duty death and would establish a new survivor support liaison to assist these beneficiaries in the Department of Treasury

• S-3427: The compensation provided through the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System of New Jersey (PFRS) to surviving family members would pay out the fallen firefighter’s families the maximum amount regardless of how many years served. Additionally, the bill allows for companions to receive PFRS accidental death pension benefits when there is no surviving spouse.
• S-3441: Designated as the “Captains Acabou’s, Brooks’, and Firefighter Hudson’s Act '' establishes a new survivor support liaison position in the Department of Treasury to assist beneficiaries of emergency responders who died in the line of duty. This assistance would include providing help during the application process for available benefits.

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