Family, friends and government dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the recent promotion of nine North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue firefighters to the rank of Captain. Additionally, the Regional promoted former Captain Daniel DeOrio to the rank of Battalion Chief.

“It is important to recognize these men for their hard work and dedication to the people of the five towns we cover,” said North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Montagne. “They train hard every day and are prepared to lay down their lives in the service of our communities. They truly are leaders and I am so pleased to see them distinguished in this way.”

Back Row: North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Board Member Ruben Vargas, North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Board Secretary Martin Martinetti, Guttenberg Mayor and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Board Member Gerald R. Drasheff, Co-Director Mike DeOrio, Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco, Weehawken Mayor and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chairman Richard Turner, North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Vice Chairman Chris Pianese and Co-Director Jeff Welz.

Front Row: Captain Richard DeSimone, Captain Matthew Caliente, Captain Michael Crossan, Captain Michael Alvarado, Captain Thomas Van Leuven, Captain Carlos Perez, Captain David Lacarrubba, Captain Steven Wojtowicz, Captain Jose Ramos, Battalion Chief Daniel DeOrio, and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Montagne.

Nightly News with Brian Williams profiled NHRFR’s hiring of 30 new firefighters who are all United States Veterans, including those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. As members of the uniformed services, they immediately understand the chain of command and the type of structure the Regional operates under, while their dedication to serving their country and communities singles these candidates out as assets to the department.

Funding for the new hires comes from a $5.6 million Federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) Grant. “Is our privilege to provide jobs to those who have honorably served their country,” said Richard Turner, NHRFR Chairman and Mayor of Weehawken. “I would like to personally thank Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, as well as Congressman Albio Sires, whose efforts mean that these new firefighters will provide residents with an increased level of fire protection at no cost to taxpayers for the next two years.”

Mayor Felix Roque, a NHRFR Board Member, joined members of North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue as they presented a fire safety program to fourth graders at PS#2 in West New York. NHRFR brought their fire safety trailer to schools in North Bergen, Union City, West New York, Weehawken and Guttenberg as part of Fire Prevention Month.

“West New York was very proud to see our firefighters and students coming together for this important program,” said Mayor Roque. “Our fourth graders had some interesting questions for the firemen and I know they enjoyed this very much.”

North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue is now operating a new, state-of-the-art, double firehouse at 4300 Kennedy Blvd. in Union City. The firehouse will also house the Regional’s fire dispatch center (fire control), emergency operating center and its emergency and interoperability command center, which will enable NHRFR to link with surrounding emergency networks in the case of a major disaster or terrorist incident.

Representatives from the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety visited NHRFR headquarters in West New York to donate of hundreds of fire detectors for residents of Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and West New York. The smoke detectors have been distributed to residents, specifically focusing on senior citizens, lower-income residents and households with children.

After nearly 30 years of service, Frank Montagne has become the first North Bergen native to become chief of North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR). Frank was sworn in by North Bergen Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco as NHRFR’s fifth chief after receiving the highest possible civil service score. Chief Montagne then had the honor to swear in seven additional firefighters who were promoted to the rank of Captain.

Battalion Chief Robert Duane, Co-Director Mike DeOrio, Deputy Chief David Donnarumma, Board Secretary Martin Martinetti, Chief Frank Montagne, Weehawken Mayor and NHRFR Chairman Richard Turner, Co-Director Jeff Welz and Retired Captain Keith Gonyow, were on hand to launch NHRFR’s new 27-foot ‘Marine 2’ Fire Boat earlier this year.

A quick response, all-weather vessel with a top speed of more than 50 mph, ‘Marine 2’ has a 3-liter, 130-horsepower, Mercury inboard engine, coupled with a Darley fire pump that can put out 1,150 gallons of water per minute – in addition to the latest navigational equipment and a range of 250 nautical miles.