Politics & Government
Borough Will Recognize Fire Safety Ordinance In Honor Of Fallen Firefighters
After five Hackensack fire fighters lost their lives during a truss roof fire in the summer of 1988, the Borough of Paramus passed an ordinance that would be adopted by other municipalities nationwide.
Twenty-five years ago, a fire at the Ford dealership in Hackensack took the lives of five fire fighters after a truss roof was compromised.
In light of the tragedy, the Borough of Paramus passed an ordinance requiring the identification of all truss roof buildings in the borough to aid firefighters when they arrived at the scene of a fire.
Fast forward to Tuesday's Mayor and Council meeting, Councilman Dennis Arslanian suggested the Borough recognize the passage of the ordinance and honor the firefighters from the tragedy and their families during the Borough's 4th of July Parade in 2013.
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"I can't think of a more fitting tribute to our men and women who put their lives as risk," said Arslanian.
Hackensack Fire Department held a memorial service July 1 for the fire victims including Capt. Richard Williams, William R. Krejsa, Stephen H. Ennis, Leonard Radumski and Lt. Richard Reinhagen. The service has been held every year since the tragedy.
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The ordinance, which was developed by former Councilman Vic Amato, Building Department Head Billy Lynn, and several fire chiefs, was the first of its type in the country.
It required placards outside buildings with truss roofs to warn firefighters of the potential danger.
The ordinance was eventually made into state law after New Jersey Legislature incorporated the ordinance into the state's fire code. The ordinance was eventually adopted by other states nationwide.
Mayor Richard Labarbiera recalled the fire as a child growing up in Paramus.
"It was a terrible, terrible time in Hackensack's history and Paramus was the lead in learning from that tragedy," said Labarbiera. "They [former mayor and council] set the standard not just for the Borough of Paramus but also for every other community in the state."
"Regretfully we're a reactive society,” Labarbiera added. “We learn from a terrible tragedy and we came up with a solution that will aid other departments who are posed with similar situations so that nobody walks into a similar tragedy. People learn from what happens."
According to Labarbiera, Arslanian is currently working with Paramus Fire Chief Bruce Durrenberger to work out the details for the future event.
