Battalion Chief Theodore Wolf is a graduate of Bayonne High School. Before joining the Fire Department, he worked as a carpenter. He was appointed to the Fire Department in 1995. He was promoted to Captain in 2015. He has received extensive training and certifications including the 9/11 World Trade Center Recovery Effort, Rescue Technician, High Angle Rope Tech, Confined Space Tech, Structure Collapse, UASI Rescue Tech, Shipboard Fire Fighting, and Trench Rescue. He is ice-water-rescue-certified and boating-certified.
Battalion Chief Marcial Pivano is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 1997. He was promoted to Captain in 2017. Throughout his career, he has received numerous certifications including UASI Rescue, Rescue Task Force, and Hazmat Tech. He has received three Unit Citations and assisted with rescue and recovery efforts on 9/11 at the World Trade Center.
Battalion Chief Michael Smith is a graduate of St. Peter’s Prep. Before joining the Fire Department, he worked at DeFilippo’s Bakery. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2007. He has earned certifications, which include Hazmat Tech. His Unit Citations include recognition of his service during Hurricane Sandy.
Battalion Chief Edward Ratyniak is a graduate of St. Peter’s Prep. He continued his education at Monmouth University, where he graduated with a major in Business Finance. Before becoming a firefighter, he worked as a Special Education teacher. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2007. He was promoted to Captain in 2020. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous certifications including UASI, Hazmat Tech, Level 1 Instructor, Fire Official, and Fire Investigator.
Battalion Chief Roger Nunez is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2005. He was promoted to Captain in 2017. During his career, he has received certifications and awards which include First Responder, Hazmat Tech, Confined Space Tech, Rope Rescue, Water/Ice Rescue Technician, and Urban Area Security Initiative-Collapse Technician. He also earned a Unit Citation for his response to Hurricane Sandy on October 29, 2012.
The new captains are Stephen Pilanski, James Pilger, David Sisk, Richard Baccarella, Timothy Lynch, Jeffery Spengler, Brian Petty, Thomas Weber, Kevin Pietranico, Michael Visone, and Brian Cotter
Captain Stephen Pilanski was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2018. He is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at New Jersey City University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science. His departmental assignments have included Engine 3 and Tower Ladder 2.
Captain James Pilger is an alumnus of St. Peter’s Prep. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s University, where he majored in Philosophy and English. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2018. During his career he has earned certifications as a Hazmat Tech and Fire Inspector.
Captain David Sisk is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree at New Jersey City University. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2007. He has completed certifications in UASI Collapse 1 and 2, Confined Space, and Trench Rescue.
Captain Richard Baccarella is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He continued his education at Montclair State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He has earned certifications in Structural Collapse and Hazmat Operations.
Captain Timothy Lynch is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He went in to attend Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in Political Science. He was appointed to the Fire Department in 2016, and also served as a Fire Official for the Bayonne Fire Prevention Bureau. Captain Lynch holds various certifications including Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and Fire Official. He is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators. In 2023, he earned his certification in Fire and Explosions Investigation.
Captain Jeffery Spengler is an alumnus of Bayonne High School. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2007. He holds numerous certifications including Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Certified Rescue Technician, Hazmat Technician, and Urban Search and Rescue. Captain Spengler received the 2024 Knights of Columbus Firefighter of the Year Award for the recovery of two fallen members of the Newark Fire Department.
Captain Brian Petty is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He furthered his education at New Jersey City University, where he majored in Criminal Justice. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2016.
Captain Thomas Weber is a graduate of East Side High School in Newark. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2007. He has earned several certifications including Structural Collapse, Trench Rescue, and Water Rescue Tech.
Captain Kevin Pietranico is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He furthered his education at The Catholic University of America, where he majored in History. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2018.
Captain Michael Visone is an alumnus of St. Peter’s Prep. He continued his education at Sacred Heart University, where he majored in Criminal Justice. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2016. He holds various certifications including Trench Collapse, Technical Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, and Hazmat Tech.
Captain Brian Cotter is a graduate of Bayonne High School. He furthered his education at Kean College (now called Kean University), where he majored in Accounting. He was appointed to the Bayonne Fire Department in 2007. Captain Cotter holds certifications including Hazmat Tech.