Off the beaten path … Super Bowl

**From Dennis McGuire, Jr.:** I know this isn’t specifically about the Chicago area, but it’s still quite fascinating. **From NorthJersey.com:** The upcoming Super Bowl XLVIII is set to break new ground in several ways, and one of the most intriguing aspects will be the extensive public safety operations spanning multiple federal, state, county, and municipal agencies. Given the Meadowlands' unique geographical setup, this event is particularly noteworthy. What's even more surprising is that this might very well be the first time a Super Bowl has relied heavily on a volunteer fire department. However, the region will also depend on another lesser-known entity—the Meadowlands Fire Department. Most of the towns surrounding East Rutherford, including the borough itself, depend on volunteer departments, which makes the situation unusual for a major sporting event typically held in metropolitan areas with centralized, professional public safety teams. But the entire Meadowlands complex, including MetLife Stadium, the Izod Center, the racetrack, and the Quest Center, is served by the Meadowlands Fire Department. Initially named the New Jersey Sports Exhibition Authority Fire Department, it was established in 1975, a year before the first venue within the complex—the racetrack—opened. This state-funded department currently employs 22 members and operates out of a station located on Route 120 in East Rutherford. They handle all events held at the complex. Their area of responsibility includes roads leading to the complex, parts of Route 120, Barry’s Creek Road, and Route 3 between the stadium and arena, as well as the flyover bridge from Route 3 over the New Jersey Turnpike into the complex. According to Meadowlands Fire Department Captain Kevin Meehan, the department is equipped to handle the diverse range of calls that come in from the Meadowlands. Their equipment includes a 2009 quint aerial ladder, a 2014 Ford F-450 mini-pumper, a 2004 F-550 mini-pumper, and a smaller, highly agile vehicle designed for rapid response. “This is essentially a souped-up golf cart,” Meehan explained. “It carries around 100 pounds of water and 10 gallons of foam, making it easy to navigate through tight spaces like the access points to the stadium if there’s ever a fire.” In addition to the Meadowlands Fire Department, a mutual aid network among local town departments has been meticulously coordinated. East Rutherford is overseeing these mutual aid efforts, working alongside the Meadowlands Fire Department. “The East Rutherford Fire Department will be on standby on the day of the game in case we need additional support,” Meehan added. “Carlstadt will also have units ready, and there are other agencies further out, like Wood-Ridge, who can assist us quickly if necessary.” Lyndhurst Assistant Fire Chief Paul Haggerty emphasized that their department will provide rescue services for accidents involving vehicles or public transport on the highways. Furthermore, their team will be fully operational throughout the day to cover Lyndhurst, anticipating an influx of visitors during the event. “Our whole department will be activated for this event, with two Lyndhurst fire units dedicated to Super Bowl operations,” Haggerty noted. “We’ll be staffing our fire headquarters from noon until midnight. Any resources needed by the commanding agencies will be readily available in the surrounding towns—they just need to call, and we’ll head straight to the location.” Haggerty praised East Rutherford for their impressive organizational skills and the comprehensive plan they've developed to bring together all the Meadowlands departments. East Rutherford police officers and firefighters even made trips to the last two Super Bowls to study how their counterparts managed similar situations in other cities. All in all, the Meadowlands Fire Department and its partners are preparing to deliver a top-notch level of service, ensuring that everything runs smoothly during this high-profile event.

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