Traditions as Constant as 6 O'clock Whistle

We could hear the fire siren loud and clear in the house where I grew up in Livingston. The station was just a block away. I loved trying to race the volunteers who hurried down Hobart Gap Road whenever the call sounded to watch the engines pull out, lights flashing and sirens blasting.

A summer tradition was a square dance, with a raffle drawing – for livestock. I remember one summer night watching the grownups dance and our neighbor winning a goat. Our friend hoped that with the goat munching on his grass he would never have to mow his lawn again. Now that’s suburban living!

Fire Chief Charles W. Schilling has been as constant at the Livingston firehouse as the six o’clock whistle. The Chief turns 90 in March and his friends are organizing a birthday party at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston.

Even longer – if that’s possible considering the Chief’s long service – is the annual Inspection Dinner. For 89 years, the department has saluted the volunteers who contribute their time and efforts in keeping Livingston safe. “It is about ‘neighbors helping neighbors’,” said Fire Chief Christopher Mullin.

If I were still trying to outrun the volunteers, I would have logged a lot of miles this past year. The department keeps strict logs of its calls: 1,142 in 2010, everything from fires in homes, to mutual aid to other municipalities, to bomb scares at the schools. The First Aid Squad, answered even more: 2,139 calls – the highest number in its 60-year history, according the Fire Department’s annual report.

 “This happens day and night, rain or shine, blizzards, hurricanes, heat-waves, holidays, during birthday parties and family dinners,” Mullin said. “As we all know, fires do not announce themselves, so we must always be ready when the alarm sounds.”

This year’s Inspection Dinner was held in memory of Anthony DelTufo, a volunteer firefighter who died in a motorcycle accident over the Fourth of July weekend. He was a member of the department for 14 years, assigned to Engine Co. 5 at the Circle Station.

The event honored three new firefighters who completed training in 2010 and are now regular members: Stephen DeHaven, a full-time student at Kean University; Jordan Greene, a chiropractor; and Wayne Brandt, who brings his EMT certification to the department.

Over the years, hundreds of Livingston residents have stepped up as volunteers. My family is proud of my sister’s son, John Anderson, a 19-year-old college student who is a member of the Auxiliary force. Like the other recruits, he has given countless hours to fire training on weekends and evenings to learn what it takes to be a firefighter. He’s been studying with other auxiliary members: Thomas Belli, Kevin Donnelly, Jordan Epstein, Zack Felmley, Conor Gardner, Matthew Mores, Jude Nedza, Daniel Paris, and Sean Smith.

 We expect full departmental honors for Chief Schilling on Thursday, March 10 when the township celebrates his birthday. He joined the department in 1942 and was chief for more than 30 years. His service to town includes the First Aid Squad and even township manager at various times. The event is 5:30-8 p.m. at the Crystal Plaza. The cost is $40 per person. Tickets may be purchased at Silverman’s at Town Center or by emailing Chuch Tahaney @ cjtahaney@comcast.net; Pat Ippolito @ pippolit@kean.edu; or Norman Mitschele @ NMitschele@aol.com.

I’m just hoping no one has to race out for a call.