By: Richard L. Smith
As the Atlantic hurricane season intensifies, Bloomfield officials are stepping up efforts to safeguard residents from severe weather events and flash flooding. 
According to Bloomfield city officials, the township’s Fire Department recently completed an intensive Swiftwater Rescue Training program for 25 firefighters—21 earning Technician-level certification and four achieving Operations-level certification.
Mayor Jenny Mundell praised the initiative, highlighting it as a key component of Bloomfield’s broader emergency preparedness strategy.
“As extreme weather becomes more frequent, Bloomfield is taking proactive steps to protect our community,” Mundell said.
“We’re working with state and local partners on a Regional Flood Mitigation Committee, upgrading equipment and infrastructure, and ensuring our first responders receive advanced training to handle emergencies. This Swiftwater Rescue certification ensures our firefighters are ready to respond to dangerous, fast-moving water situations.”
Fire Chief Louis Venezia emphasized the need to pair advanced equipment with specialized training.
“We’ve added a Zodiac rescue boat to our fleet, which significantly improves our capabilities,” Venezia noted.
“But equipment alone isn’t enough. Our personnel must be expertly trained to use it effectively. The recent flash flood tragedies across the nation underscore just how critical this preparation is. I’m incredibly proud of our firefighters for completing this demanding program and for their dedication to protecting Bloomfield residents.”
The training program involved more than 40 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction, following a four-phase certification process that meets the strict standards set by NFPA 1006 and NFPA 1670, which regulate technical rescue operations.
With these measures in place, Bloomfield’s Fire Department is well-positioned to respond quickly and effectively to flooding and water emergencies as the hurricane season reaches its peak.