VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE BOROUGH SINCE 1890
The Fanwood Volunteer Fire Company was organized in 1890 and has provided fire protection services to the residents of Fanwood and neighboring communities for over 130 years.
Today the company is comprised of over 30 volunteers who respond out of the fire station in the rear of borough hall. Available apparatus includes three Chief vehicles, two fire engines, and one 75-foot ladder truck.
The Fire Company is always looking for new volunteers. If you are interested in joining the Fanwood Fire Department please click the JOIN US button!
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
At around 2:30am this morning, Fanwood Fire Dept. E-8 was dispatched as mutual aid to a cover assignment into the city of Plainfield while the PFD operated at a house fire. While en route, the fire was upgraded to a 2nd alarm. E-8 was redirected to the scene and assigned suppression operations.
Photo credit: Joe Flammia
As we prepare for tomorrow's snow storm, Fanwood Fire Department would like to remind all residents of the following winter safety tips:
▪︎Heating & Power Safety
Use space heaters safely: Keep them at least 3 feet away from anything flammable and never leave them unattended.
Never use outdoor heaters or grills indoors (charcoal, propane, generators)—they cause deadly carbon monoxide.
Have chimneys and fireplaces cleaned before winter; snow and ice can worsen blockages.
Use candles carefully or better yet, skip them and use battery-powered lights.
Install and test smoke alarms and CO detectors—especially with increased heater use.
▪︎Electrical Safety
Avoid overloaded outlets when running heaters, lights, or power strips.
Use extension cords rated for cold weather and only as temporary solutions.
Turn off heaters before going to bed or leaving the house.
▪︎Generator Safety
Operate generators outdoors only, and at least 20 feet from buildings.
Never run generators in garages, even with the door open.
Let generators cool before refueling to prevent fires.
▪︎Cooking Safety
Keep cooking areas clear—heavy winter clothing can catch fire easily.
Never leave cooking unattended, especially when power flickers.
Have a fire extinguisher accessible in the kitchen.
▪︎Snow & Ice Awareness
Clear snow from furnace, dryer, and generator vents to prevent CO buildup and overheating.
Remove snow from roofs when safe to reduce ice dams that can lead to electrical damage.
Keep fire hydrants clear so firefighters can access them quickly.
▪︎Emergency Preparedness
Create an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, and a fire extinguisher.
Plan multiple exit routes in case snow blocks doors.
▪︎Community & Family Safety
Check on elderly neighbors who may rely on unsafe heating sources.
Teach kids heater and candle safety—snow days mean more indoor time.
ANY EMERGENCY CALL 911.
This afternoon Fanwood Fire was dispatched to N Glenwood Rd for the reported structure fire. Upon arrival units found an active deck fire in the rear of a residence.
Engine 7, Ladder 1, and Engine 8 responded to the scene. Units stretched an 1 3/4" attack line and the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. There was no extension inside of the home and no reported injuries.
Last week three of Fanwood Fire Department's newest members graduated from the Union County Fire Academy. Doug Germinder, Cameron Hoover, and Tim Paprocki successfully completed the 4+ month training program and are now certified firefighters in the State of NJ.
Please join us in congratulating their accomplishment!
Yesterday Santa successfully made over 450 stops and delivered over 1,000 gifts to children across the boro! The Fanwood Fire Department would like to thank all of the volunteer firefighters and their family and friends, the Fanwood Police Department, Fanwood Rescue Squad, and the Union County Sheriff's Office who volunteered countless hours in order to make this year's Santa Parade a success.
We look forward to seeing everyone again next year and we wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.
Santa is coming to Fanwood this morning!
To ensure a fun and safe parade we would like to remind everyone of the following:
- The sirens on your street is your cue that Santa will be arriving soon. Please ensure that your children are waiting at the curb when Santa arrives on your street. Santa will not walk to your front door so please ensure that they are ready.
-Unless instructed by someone from the fire department, do not approach the fire trucks while they are at another stop.
-If you are in a large group please ensure that you let the lead car in the parade know all of the addresses that we will be delivering at that stop.
-We will periodically need to temporarily block traffic. Drivers please be smart and use caution near the parade. Do not attempt to go around our apparatus.
We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
REMINDER - TODAY is the last day to drop off gifts for the Santa Parade. We will be collecting gifts between 5pm-9pm.
Late gifts will NOT be accepted!
FFD would like to express our gratitude to Fabios Bistro for providing food to our volunteers collecting gifts for the Santa Parade. Thank you!
Gift collection for the 2025 Fanwood Fire Dept. Santa Parade starts TODAY, December 1st!
🎁 Gift Collection Details:
• Starts: Dec. 1, 2025
• Ends: Dec. 5, 2025
• Drop-off: Gifts can be dropped off at the firehouse between 5pm–9pm each night
Drop off your gifts early so Santa and the Fanwood firefighters can deliver them during the parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025! 🎄🚒
👉 More info: fanwoodfd.com/santa/
REMINDER:
Gift collection for the Santa Parade begins next week (12/1 - 12/5). We will be collecting gifts at the firehouse between 5pm-9pm each night.
Please ensure that gifts are appropriately labeled and are within the size requirements. You can review the gift requirements here: fanwoodfd.com/santa/Santa will be returning to Fanwood on Saturday December 13th!
The gift collection window will be 12/01/2025 through 12/05/2025 between 5pm - 9pm each night.
IMPORTANT: Unfortunately, last year we had to reject several gifts during our collection because they did not comply with the gift size and/or packaging requirements. Please go to www.fanwoodfd.com/Santa to review the gift requirements as well as other frequently asked questions. Your cooperation with this helps ensure a smooth process and is very much appreciated by the volunteers who work to make this event possible.
We look forward to seeing all of you soon!