The Westwood Fire Department and the entire Pascack Valley continue to mourn the loss of Sergeant Christopher Hrbek, killed while on patrol in Afghanistan on January 14, 2010. A funeral procession welcoming him home will occur on Thursday, January 21 beginning at 2:45 pm starting at the Westwood High School in Washington Township. The complete procession route can be found after the jump.

We ask that residents be aware of this event. Those who wish to pay their respects are invited and welcomed to attend the homecoming event. Please stand along the processional route with your American Flag to pay tribute to Sgt. Hrbek's sacrifice. We expect excessive traffic delays due to this event and those traveling the area of the route are encouraged to find an alternate route to their destination.

We ask all non-Westwood Fire Department members to wear their Class A uniform and line Westwood Ave between Broadway and Kinderkamack Rd.

On Friday, January 22, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm those wishing to pay their respects may do so at the wake at Zion Lutheran Church on Second Ave. A special Fire Department service is tentatively scheduled for 7:00 pm. All members of the fire service are asked to attend at that time in their Class A uniform.

On Saturday, January 23, the funeral mass will commence at 9:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church, in Westwood, and internment will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ.

A Repast is scheduled for that afternoon, but please note that this event is by invitation only. Please contact the Westwood Fire Department if you have any questions.

The Westwood Fire Department mourns the loss of Christopher Hrbek, an active firefighter in the department and a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps who was killed in the line of duty this morning (1/14/2010) while on patrol in Afghanistan. Sgt. Hrbek is the step-son of Westwood Senior Captain Jaymee Hodges, and is the step-brother of Westwood and FDNY Firefighters Jim Hodges and Beau Hodges. The entire Fire Department family extends our deepest sympathies to the Hrbek and Hodges families.

UPDATE: As of today (1/18/10) the date of Sgt. Hrbek's funeral has not been finalized. As soon as the correct date is known, it will be posted here. However, we do have the preocession route and it is listed after the jump. We are asking everyone to please line the Procession route to honor Chris Hrbek.

The Westwood Volunteer Fire Department is pleased to announce our annual Community Service Scholarship Program for the college academic year beginning September 2010.  The program provides up to four (4) scholarship awards, totaling no more than $2,000 each year.  Each scholarship award is paid directly to the student to be applied toward such items as tuition, room and board, fees and books.

The Westwood Fire Department elected its officers for 2010 earlier this month. The slate is basically unchanged from 2009, as you can see below. All Officers will be sworn in during the town Re-organization meeting to be held at 7:00 pm on January 5th. Congratulations to all Officers.

Chief Marc Fedorchak
Deputy Chief Chris Kelley
Sr. Captain Jaymee Hodges
Captain JC Mawdsley
1st Lieutenant Joe Malley
2nd Lieutenant Jim Voorhis
3rd Lieutenant George Carter
4th Lieutenant Billy Haffler

The Presidential Board for 2010 is as follows:

President Darren Blankenbush
1st Vice President Melissa Quinn
2nd Vice President Sean Stewart
Secretary Frederick Wright
Treasurer Robert Saul Sr.