On July 15th, 2007, Ridgefield Park Ex-Chief and active firefighter Stephen Dembski

responded to a mutual aid call for a fully involved house fire in Bogota.

He performed search and rescue duties, as well as helping with ventilation operations.

After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters cleaned up and returned to their firehouses.

Within a few hours, while at home, Ex-Chief Dembski complained that he was

having back pain and felt faint.

He then collapsed and passed away from an apparent heart attack.

The box number for the Bogota Mutual Aid Fire was Box 45.

Therefore let it be known that

outside box number 45 is permanently retired.

 45 will never to be sounded for an alarm of fire in the Borough of Bogota again.

 We do this in memory of  firefighter Stephen Dembski.

 A  Ridgefield Park firefighter who answered his last alarm helping his brothers in Bogota.