While driving on Massachusetts Ave this past Erev Shabbos shortly after 5:00 pm I noticed 2 vehicles pass me with flashing blue lights, indicating that they were being driven by volunteer firefighters responding to a fire emergency. I then saw overhead vicious clouds of smoke. I followed the signs and messages I received from people in the know to the scene of a brush fire being extinguished by members of the Lakewood Fire Department in a construction site off of Prospect Ave.

The 2 vehicles appeared to be heading into Lakewood from nearby Lakehurst or Manchester where some of the LFD volunteers live. These volunteers were at the scene along with dozens of Orthodox  Jewish members of the LFD. Take note that this was just under 3 hours before Shabbos began and that many of the firefighters were at the scene for over an hour!

Taking in this scene strengthened in me the need to express my gratitude to all the volunteer members of the Lakewood Fire Department for their dedication and devotion to me and you, the residents of Lakewood, all year round. A firefighter, holding his radio, truly has no idea what emergency situation may be thrown his way at any given moment. As I’m not a firefighter myself, I can only imagine.

The unity and professionalism which was apparent at the fire scene, I believe, is directly related to the amazing way the entire fire district is managed and operated. Lakewood Fire District No. 1 truly stands as a shining pillar for our town and is a role model which other departments should learn from. Every firefighter, commissioner, chief officer, and administrative staff member who I have met does his best to give a positive impression of the department while at the same time recognising his singular position and role in the hierarchy of the department, referring and deferring appropriately.

The Chief of Department Michael D’elia Jr is truly a community friendly fire chief as he interacts seamlessly with people of all ages and community groups.

Fire Commissioners David Mizrahi, Meir Cohen, and Avi Lieber take formal action in their capacity with the continuous support and backing of the chief officers. They recently adopted Standard Operational Guidelines to ensure the continual safety and professionalism of the firefighters. They constantly and consistently look to maintain and upgrade the safety of the firefighters and fire trucks and to provide continuing education to the firefighters while staying mindful of their allotted budget.

Finally, if the firefighters are the crown jewel of the department, then the Fire District Administrator Mr. Vinnie Vitiello and the Administrative Clerk Yehuda Beer truly are the foundations for the crown. Vinnie and Yehuda serve as the initial point of contact for regular folks like me to maintain contact with and stay informed about the fire district. From the very first time I met them, I felt the warmth and welcome feeling of the fire district. Their professionalism in their field is apparent in all my interactions with them, and at the same time, they know when to defer judgement appropriately to the chief officers or the commissioners.

Saying “thank you” doesn’t suffice for all my gratitude to everyone who’s part of the LFD but it’s the least I can do to show you I recognise your hard work, dedication, and devotion to me and my town.

Yours Truly,

Moshe Zeines