Three blocked fire hydrants during a Market Street blaze have pushed Passaic city leaders toward a plan that would let uniformed firefighters write their own parking tickets. Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost says vehicles parked near all three hydrants closest to a second-alarm fire slowed down crews trying to get water on the flames, and now the City Council is weighing whether to give firefighters the legal power to act on the spot instead of waiting for police.
A June Letter Sparked the Push
According to News12 New Jersey, Trentacost laid out the problem in a June 18 letter to Mayor Hector Lora, describing how parked cars blocked all three hydrants near the Market Street fire and delayed firefighting operations. The chief also reported that firefighters encounter blocked hydrants throughout Passaic on a near-daily basis, a frustration that apparently reached a breaking point after that incident. Lora approved the chief's request to develop the measure that same month, setting the stage for the ordinance now before the council.
News12 described a proposed ordinance to prohibit obstruction of fire hydrants and fire department connections while authorizing uniformed firefighters as parking enforcement officers. The council advanced the proposal on first reading October 20, News12 reported. The City of Passaic's agenda set the next meeting for Thursday, November 5, 2026 — the date now slated for a public hearing and final vote.
Why Firefighters Say They Need the Power
Right now, the station's report notes, firefighters who spot a blocked hydrant have to call police officers to actually issue a ticket. Lora said as much at the October 20 meeting, framing the current process as a bottleneck during emergencies. Under the proposed change, he said, firefighters will be empowered to issue tickets themselves rather than waiting on a separate police response.
The scope of that power would be narrow. Appointed firefighters could issue tickets and arrange towing only for specific violations involving fire hydrants, fire lanes and fire department connections — their authority would not extend to metered parking, time limits or permit restrictions, per the same account. Passaic could appoint up to 20 uniformed firefighters to these enforcement roles, and any firefighter appointed would have to meet qualification and training requirements before taking on the job.
Fines and a 10-Foot Buffer
The proposed ordinance would prohibit parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, mirroring an existing New Jersey state law restriction. Penalties would escalate with repeat violations: a minimum fine of $100 upon conviction for a first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for any offense after that, according to the same News12 report. If adopted, the ordinance would take effect after final passage and publication as required by law.
The council is scheduled to take up the measure at 7 p.m. Thursday at 330 Passaic St., where the public hearing and final vote will take place.
A Deadly Reminder From the Bronx
A Deadly Reminder From the Bronx Passaic's debate echoes a fatal fire that unfolded in the Bronx about six weeks earlier. A blocked fire hydrant delayed the FDNY's response to a fire that killed one person, according to NBC New York, though reports on the number injured have varied, with the outlet citing 10 in one account and a related search snippet citing 11. Responders in that case towed a vehicle and issued summonses totaling $4,000 just to clear access to the hydrant, with the FDNY stressing that blocking hydrants delays firefighters from getting water on a fire and is both dangerous and illegal.
