For Emergencies, dial 9-1-1
Fire Chief, Vincent Marciano | firechief@totowanj.org
22 Mitchell Ave, Totowa, NJ 07512
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Monuments
In the mid-1960s, A committee was formed to design the Totowa Fire Department monument. The members of the committee were representatives from each of the fire companies: Frank E. Gloor (Chairman), Michael Panzella, William DeGraff, Claude Kranik, William Dillon, Daniel Augustine, Lawrence Roome, Fred Ehlers, Russel Hartkopf, Robert Dowling (Fire Chief), Council Jack Whitney (Liason from the Mayor and Council).
Early on, it was decided that a bell should be the focal point of the monument. In the late 1960s, Carmen Ottilio, from Ottillio and Sons Contractors, donated a bell to serve that purpose. The committee then met with Robert Woods from the Woods Monument Company. The committee and Mr. Woods drew several possible designs over the course of a couple of years. In early 1972, Mayor Samuel Cherba and the Council members met with the monument committee to select a location for the monument. It was decided to locate it on the Municipal Building property, close to Totowa Road. Once the area was chosen, a final decision was made for the design.
On February 7, 1972, the monument was ordered. It is constructed of Canadian Pink Granite. It measures 10 feet, 4 inches in length, 6 feet in height, and 4 feet in depth. The top inscription reads, "Borough of Totowa Fire Department." The base inscription reads: "In memory of our Dedicated Firemen". The monument is dedicated to those firefighters who have answered their last call and gone on to eternal rest, as well as to retired firefighters, those currently serving, and those who will serve in the future.
The monument was delivered to the Municipal Building in mid-May 1972, after the Cooperative Concrete Corp. had installed the concrete base for the foundation. It was dedicated on Monday, May 29, 1972, at 1:00 PM. The unveiling was done by the senior active members from each Fire Company: Charles Fredrick, Sr. (Volunteer Fire Co.), Frank Gloor, Sr. (Lincoln Fire Co.), Roy Paxton (Riverview Park Fire Co.), and Lawrence Roome (Fire Rescue).
After the unveiling, Fire Chief Robert Dowling, along with the oldest living exempt firefighters, Sebastian Hubschmitt and Ralph Accadia, placed a wreath at the monument. The Mayor and Council members, as well as representatives from the Totowa Police Department and the Totowa First Aid Squad, were also in attendance. The Totowa Fire Department "Fire Bells" Color Guard also participated in the festivities.
On May 29th, 2022, the Totowa Fire Department celebrated the 50th anniversary of dedicating the monument by adding an additional inscribed stone marking the occasion.
Our Fleet: Ready to Roll
From engine and ladder, to rescue unit, every truck in our fleet plays a critical role in protecting Totowa. Each piece of apparatus represents the strength, training, and dedication of the volunteers behind the wheel — always ready to answer the call, day or night. Take a closer look at the tools we trust to keep our community safe.
Truck 1
Volunteer Fire Co.
Engine 971
Volunteer Fire Co.
Engine 972
Lincoln Fire Co.
Engine 973
Riverview Park Fire Co.
Rescue 4
Fire Rescue
Squad 4
Fire Rescue
Department Officers
The strength of the Totowa Volunteer Fire Department starts with the dedicated officers who lead it. From Chiefs to Line Officers, each member brings experience, integrity, and a deep commitment to serving our community. Together, they guide our department with courage, clarity, and a shared mission to protect Totowa with excellence.
Car 970 - Chief Vincent Marciano
Car 21 - Ass't. Chief David Cramer
Car 22 - Ass't . Chief Nat Kaplan
Car 23 - Ass't. Chief Steve Jacobs
Car 24 - Ass't. Chief Aslon Goow
President - Mario Gaita, Jr.
Vice President - Richard Schopperth
Treasurer - Nicholas Tedesco
Secretary - Don Warnet, Sr.
Questions, comments, concerns? Please call (973) 956-1000 ext. 1013
Our Story
Our department stands on a proud and rich history of selfless service to the residents of our community. Since 1908, the concerned citizens of the Borough of Totowa have taken it upon themselves to protect their community from fires and other disasters.
Tradition and Commitment Honored
On May 28, 2026, the Borough of Totowa Fire Department continued its tradition of honoring those who have served before us with the dedication and unveiling of a new monument recognizing the Past Fire Chiefs of the Borough of Totowa Fire Department.
The monument was dedicated under the leadership of Fire Chief Vincent Marciano and serves as a lasting tribute to the men who have held the office of Fire Chief and provided leadership to the Department throughout its history. Their names represent generations of service, sacrifice, responsibility, and commitment to the firefighters of the Department and the residents of the Borough of Totowa.
During the ceremony, the monument was unveiled by Past Fire Chief Rich Schopperth and Fire Department President Mario Gaita, symbolically bringing together the Department's past and present leadership.
Following the unveiling, Father Marc Mancini of St. James of the Marches R.C. Church, who also serves as a chaplain for the Totowa Fire Department, offered a blessing over the new monument and the firefighters of the Department.
Also in attendance were New Jersey State Senator Kristin Corrado and Assemblymen Chris DePhillips and Al Barlas of the 40th Legislative District, along with Totowa Mayor John Coiro, Council President Lou D'Angelo, and other members of the Borough Council. The attending officials recognized the Department and thanked its members for their legacy of committed service to the Borough and its residents.
The Past Fire Chiefs Monument joins the Department's existing memorials at the Totowa Municipal Building and adds another chapter to a tradition that began more than a century ago. While the original Fire Department monument honors the dedicated firefighters who have served Totowa—past, present, and future—the new monument preserves the names and legacy of those entrusted with leading them.
Together, these monuments stand as a permanent reminder that the history of the Totowa Fire Department is not the history of buildings, apparatus, or alarms answered. It is the history of generations of volunteers who accepted the responsibility of protecting their neighbors, serving their community, and leaving the Department stronger for those who would follow.
The Past Fire Chiefs Monument ensures that the leadership and service of those who came before will remain a visible part of the Department's history for generations to come.
You can visit our monuments at: 537 Totowa Road, Totowa, NJ 07512
On Sunday, March 25, 2012, about 200 residents gathered in front of the Municipal Building to unveil and dedicate a granite and steel tribute to those who died in the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01.
The memorial, designed and funded by the fire department, includes two stone towers approximately three feet high that symbolize the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. Below those rests a burnt piece of an
I-beam that was taken from the wreckage of the WTC.
Among the many in attendance were members of the Totowa Fire Department and firefighters from surrounding towns. Speakers of the day included Totowa Fire Chief, Vincent Marciano, Fire Department President, Kevin Walsh, Totowa Mayor, John Coiro, and FDNY Firefighter, James Sorokac, who spoke about his experience on 9/11.
The ceremony, which included a detailed recounting of the events of 9/11, was an emotional one for many.
We currently consist of four fire companies. Each company has a distinct personality, yet all are part of the Borough of Totowa Fire Department, with the one goal to protect the residents of Totowa from fire and/or natural and manmade disasters. Each company has their own proud and distinguished history. Here are their stories:
Click here to view the current ordinance.
Click on a Fire Company to read their history.
