Clifton has new fire chief
Capt. Vincent Colavitti, Jr. was officially sworn in at a ceremony on Monday afternoon, where Fire Lt. Ryan Fitzsimmons was also promoted to captain and Firefighter Thomas Lanza to lieutenant.
"My job here," said Colavitti, "as the chief of the fire department – it's not about me, it's about the men and women who put the uniform of the fire department on. My job now is to make sure I give them the tools, the education and the equipment to be able to do their job and give the best service to this City as possible. And to make sure they go home to their families at the end of their shift."
Colavitti said improving the fire department to a Class 1 rating is a long-term goal of his, as well as getting additional officers back on the job after this budget year. The fire department was upgraded to a Class 2 rating in September.
Colavitti praised deputy chiefs Leopold Loder, Henry Cholewczynski, Norman Tahan, Brian Mulligan, Kevin McCarthy and George Spies, each of whom rotated every couple of months and filled in as acting fire chief while the City waited to permanently fill the position.
Upset with being passed over, Tahan, who scored higher than Colavitti on the civil service position exam, stirred some controversy when he quickly announced he would resign prior when the announcement was made late last week. But on Monday, Tahan was in uniform and present at the promotion. When asked, he said he was advised by legal counsel not to resign and added he might take legal action to "fight it." Tahan said he preferred not to steal the thunder away from the promotions and did not comment further.
Clifton FMBA Local 21 President Bob DeLuca said in his 25 years with the department he has never seen a fire captain promoted to the role of fire chief. He said the City, as far as he knows, has always promoted one of the deputy fire chiefs to the position of chief.
Joseph Verderosa was fire chief until he retired in 2010 and before him Jeffrey Adams was chief until he retired in 2009. Both men had served as deputy fire chiefs before they were promoted to chief.
Home Fire Ladder - News
CLIFTON – For what might be the first time in Clifton history, a fire captain has jumped a rung on the career ladder and earned the position of fire chief, filling a position that had been vacant for roughly 17 months.
Logan City firefighters position a ladder for access into the attic of a home that caught fire at 320 E. 500 North in Logan on Thursday. (Jennifer Meyers/Herald Journal) A house at 320 E. 500 North in Logan filled with smoke Thursday when an electrical
Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Brandt said he believed all five people who lived there were college students. Three fire engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief initially responded, and two additional crews were called to help with salvage operations.
Broschard of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. The home's resident was waving for help from the upper floor. Firefighters "took at 24-foot ground ladder, set it against the house and climbed up to help the man," Broschard said.
He said fire officials don't know the fire's cause or where it started. Four fire engines, a ladder truck and a battalion chief responded. When crews arrived, the home's attached garage was engulfed in flames. Smoke and flames caused extensive damage
Having smoke detectors installed in your home is only part of the solution to keeping your family safe from fire 
@ that would be fab. makes me want 2 climb up a fire ladder 2 find my carey grant :) i dont have 2 tho bc he just got home :)
Deal #5: Kidde 468094 Three-Story Fire Escape Ladder with Anti-Slip Rungs, 25-Foot in #Home Improvement
Deal #5: Kidde 468094 Three-Story Fire Escape Ladder with Anti-Slip Rungs, 25-Foot in #Home Improvement
... the earth and the Good Green FunTM seekers who call it home. Sturdy roof ladder pivots vertically and rotates...