Incident Name: controlled burn at Round Valley Reservoir State Park, NJ
Date: 3/28/2013
Personnel: Jeffrey Scheuerer
Age: 35
Agency/Organization: NJ Forest Fire Service
Position: firefighter, District Forest Fire Warden
Summary: At about 1130 hours on 3/28/2013, Jeffrey Scheuerer, a 35 year old firefighter was struck and killed by a vehicle on the smoke-obscured Lebanon-Stanton Road (Route 629). He was a New Jersey Forest Fire Service District Warden working on a controlled burn near Round Valley Reservoir. Jeff was fatally struck by a motor vehicle after exiting the type 6 engine he was operating. Heavy smoke from the controlled burn shifted, and that may have reduced visibility. Jeff was also a very active firefighter with the Readington Volunteer Fire Department, Station 32 for at least the past 22 years.
Photo of Jeffrey Scheuerer, credit to the Readington Volunteer Fire Department
Maps
along Route 629 — the Lebanon-Stanton Road near an entrance to Round Valley Recreation Area, near the bottom of a hill, north of the park entrance.
{mosmap lat=’40.61879’|lon=’-74.858551’|marker=’0’|text=’Accident Location’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- NJ Forest Fire Service – Official Announcement:
Yesterday the New Jersey Forest Fire Service suffered the tragic loss of A-8 District Forest Firewarden Jeff Scheuerer. Jeff was fatally struck by a motor vehicle after exiting the type 6 engine he was operating during a prescribed burning operation at Round Valley Reservoir State Park. Jeff was also a very active firefighter with the Readington Volunteer Fire Department Station 32 for at least the past 22 years and we share our brother firefighters’ grief.
In these tough times it’s important to take a pause and reinforce to our staff that safety of our people is our number one priority. As we begin the spring fire season, please make every effort to advise all staff to take the time and speak to their crews, both full and part time to provide for safety first. It is recognized that this is the number one fire order, however, this must apply to all of this agencies activities from wildfires, RXB, training, aviation, driving and working in any of our facilities. We must look out for one another, as well as, looking out for ourselves and mitigate any safety concerns that arise to ensure the safety of our people.
Please keep Jeff and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers…Thank you.
Steve Holmes
Supervising Forest Firewarden
NJ Forest Fire Service
Wildlandfire.com Links:
- Theysaid-it: March 28, 2013
- Hotlist: NJ Forest Fire Service Division A – Firefighter fatality
Media Articles and Reports
- Smoke from Forest Fire Service burn may have led to fatal accident3/28/2013 | Online Article
Clinton Twp, NJ — The state Forest Fire Service firefighter struck and killed while conducting a controlled burn near Round Valley Reservoir is Jeffrey Scheuerer, 35. He had deep Hunterdon roots as a longtime resident of Raritan Township and as an active volunteer with the Readington Volunteer Fire Company, possibly since his high school days at Hunterdon Central. (snip) The accident happened when heavy smoke from the controlled burn shifted, apparently reducing visibility on Lebanon-Stanton Road near an entrance to Round Valley Recreation Area… (More at the link…)
- Firefighter With N.J. Forest Service Killed During Controlled Burn3/28/2013 | Online Article
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Authorities say a firefighter with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service was struck and killed during a controlled burn in Hunterdon County. Jeff Scheuerer was working along Route 629 in Clinton Township… (More at the link…)
- ‘Smoke Limited Visibility’ signs posted near scene where N.J. firefighter was killed
4/3/2013 | Online Article
The emergency flashing lights were activated atop a New Jersey Forest Fire Service truck the day a firefighter was struck and killed. Large, orange reflective signs were also posted roadside during that controlled burn at Round Valley Recreation Area, investigators said today, when a Jeep struck Jeffrey Scheuerer, 35, of Raritan Township.
The Fire Service has a “very exhaustive” protocol that lists “a variety of steps that are taken, under a variety of situations, that provide for the safety of crews,” State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna said today, adding that firefighters also receive safety training. “They’re not going out into these scenes unprepared,” he said. “These standards are used across the nation” by various agencies.
“At the time of this accident,” Hajna continued, “the firefighting vehicle was properly parked at the side of the road with warning lights flashing and reflective traffic signs posted on both sides of the road to warn oncoming traffic.” The accident happened after a “sudden” shift of wind sent smoke so heavy across the road that three drivers couldn’t see the firetruck partially blocking Lebanon-Stanton Road, nor the flashing lights, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office reported… (More at the link…)
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- Readington Volunteer Fire Department: Passing of FF Jeff Scheuerer (photo of Jeffrey from the 50th anniversary is posted at the link)
- Obituary: Jeffrey Scheuerer, age 35 of, Flemington, NJ, died Thursday, March 28, 2013. Born in Framingham, MA, he was the son of Thomas and Barbara Scheuerer of Cumming, GA.
Jeff lived in Whitehouse Station before moving to Flemington. He was a 1996 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Jeff was a twenty one year member of the Readington Fire Company and served as a Lieutenant and Safety Officer. He was also a District Warden with the NJ Forest Fire Service, Division A, Section 8, since 2007.
Besides his parents, Jeff is survived by his brother, David Scheuerer and his wife, Kate of Tybee, GA, and his niece, Lauren. He is also survived by his Paternal grandfather, Thomas Scheuerer; his uncles, James Knox and his wife, Barbara Anne; and Robert Scheuerer and his wife, Terri; his aunts, Valerie Hughes and her husband, Michael and Diane Kea gins and her husband, Jim and many cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Monday, April 1, 2013 from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Hwy., 28, Whitehouse. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Whitehouse Station. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Readington Fire Company, 6 Hillcrest Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889. Visit www.kearn sfuneralhome for more information or to send condolences to the family.
- Readington Volunteer Fire Department – Services information for Jeff Scheuerer:
Viewing – Monday 4/1
Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse, NJ 08888
2p-5p and 7p-9p (with a fireman’s service)
Funeral – Tuesday 4/2
8:30-9am fire departments at the church
10 am at the Church, services will begin
Our Lady of Lourdes, 390 County Road 523, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889
These times so far are the initial times, and changes will be posted ASAP!
Thank you for your continued support!
***UPDATED STAGING INSTRUCTIONS***
For those attending the funeral service at the church April 2, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church,
-For those departments bringing colors for the honor guard- please be at the church no later than 8:30-9am.
mapquest.com/places/our-lady-of-lourdes-273287138/
-For those departments bringing apparatus please report to Route 22 and School Road, in Whitehouse Station, NJ for staging area. You will then be directed where to park.
-For those individuals coming in their own personal vehicles, please park at Solberg Airport located at 39 Thor-Solberg Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889. There will be a shuttle service provided to and from the church. MapQuest directions….
mapquest.com/places/solberg-airport-whitehouse-station-nj-1087026/
– Any questions please contact Readington Volunteer Fire Company @ 908-534-9112
- Fallen Firefighter JEFFREY SCHEUERER Honored for His Service to New Jersey; Flags Lowered at State House in His Honor(13/P30) TRENTON — Firefighter Jeffrey Scheuerer, who died last week in the line of duty while working on a forest fire line in Hunterdon County, was honored today by the Christie Administration for his long-time commitment, dedication and service to ensuring the safety of the residents of New Jersey.
Governor Christie issued a proclamation directing flags to be lowered at the State House in Trenton from Tuesday, April 2, 2013 to Monday, April 8, 2013 to honor Scheuerer. “Jeffrey Scheuerer was an outstanding young man who had a remarkable sense of duty and commitment to our state and to his community,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin. “His service began as a young teen and continued for the rest of his life. He is a role model for all of us when it comes to the value of community service.”
Scheuerer, 35, of Flemington, was fatally struck by a car last Thursday when he exited the engine he was operating during a controlled burn that was being conducted by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service near the Round Valley Reservoir in Clinton Township to help minimize potential dangers from future forest fires. A District Fire Warden for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Scheuerer also was an active firefighter with the Readington Volunteer Fire Department, Station 32, for the past 22 years, including a period as a junior firefighter – starting at age 14. The proclamation can be viewed at: www.nj.gov/dep/docs/scheuerer.pdf
- Gallery: Funeral Mass for Jeff Scheuerer, Gallery 1 (43 photos) — Hunterdon County Democrat
Description: On April 2, a funeral Mass for Jeff Scheuerer was celebrated at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station. - Readington Township firefighter Jeffrey Scheuerer honored by friends and comrades
4/2/2013 | Online Article
About 50 firefighting vehicles were poised this morning outside Kearns Funeral Home for the procession to Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Readington Township and the funeral of firefighter Jeffrey Scheuerer, of Raritan Township… (More at the link…)
- USFA Memorial Database: Jeffrey Scheuerer
- Ceremony draws crowd to future memorial for Hunterdon firefighter killed in line of dutyMarch 28, 2014 | Online Article with photos
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the future site of the Jeffrey Scheuerer Memorial in Round Valley Recreation Area. He was working a controlled burn for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service exactly one year earlier, on March 28, 2013, when he was struck and killed on a public road nearby. He was also a 21-year Readington Fire Company volunteer. (more photos, description, and tribute at the link above…)
- Pavers engraved with up to three lines of print, 15 characters per line, may be purchased for the Jeff’s memorial for $100 each. To buy a paver or make a contribution, email NJ78FFA@gmail.com or mail information with payment to Jeff Scheuerer Memorial, 161 Old Croton Road, Flemington 08822.
Contributors to this article: wannabe firewriter, nj contributor, Bill Edwards, GA Peach
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