Black Out, Newark Ave, Northside

Since starting this blog, I just about never go anywhere without the camera. There are a lot of posts with pictures of our firemen and their shiny red trucks. I realize that a lot of these pictures are the same, firemen in their gear, near their vehicles. The images only appear to be the same. The reality is that each call they are responding to is different. The protocols followed—where the vehicles are parked, what gear is taken off the truck, who goes onto the scene first—are identical—they have to be in order to be effective, but in spite of general categories they may fall into, each emergency is unique. I whish I knew more about the procedures because then, each image could be accurately identified, this is the J.C. Fire Department implementing stage I, II, II, and so on. These pictures were after the threat had been ascertained, and the fire fighters are milling about and shooting the breeze waiting for the signal to leave the scene and go back to the fire house and wait for the next call. We have a great fire department in this town. Look at the number of the trucks, parked so traffic is blocked off and the job can be done. It was a nasty day too, gelid rain and wind and temperatures dropping to the 40s. I know a few of these guys, acquaintances mostly and they are just really great, nice folks. So professional and good natured, ask them what is happening and they’ll tell you want they know.

What happened? On Friday on the north side of Newark Ave, smoke came out of a Manhole and the electricity went off in the cluster of buildings in the center of the block. Turned out, there was a short in the cable, and later, PSE&G sent workers to replace the cables. According to one of the owners of Tender Shoot, the produce bodega, it took five hours for the electricity to return, in time for the evening rush. A minor emergency, one of the many inconveniences that happens. It’s not news that there was no disaster, or that the Fire Department was the first responders in a situation and quickly ascertained the nature of the emergency. Next time, we may not be so lucky, but that phrase is a cliché and untrue. Next time, no matter what the situation, we will be so lucky because our Fire Department will be there. They’re ready.