Security Tape Captures Firefighter Prank

By Doreen Bernardini

Something didn’t sit right with an RVCC computer science professor when a fire fighter in full gear entered her class and told everyone to evacuate at about 7 p.m. on Oct. 23.

North Branch Volunteer Fireman Giovanni Balsano Jr., 18, of Branchburg, told the class it had to evacuate due to a smell of smoke coming from their classroom and the classroom below, according to Branchburg Police.

The fireman’s behavior and the students’ reaction — many began to smile and laugh — alerted the professor that something was wrong. She followed the fireman out of the classroom and asked if any other rooms were being evacuated, then asked to see his chief, police said. Balsano, who is an RVCC student, quickly walked away.

According to the police report, the professor checked classrooms nearby to see whether they were evacuated. When she learned they were not and there were no other firefighters or fire trucks present, police said, she e-mailed RVCC Public Safety Director Reinhold Woykowski, who contacted Branchburg Police.

Woykowski gave the police a security video of the incident which allegedly showed Balsano entering West Building in full gear, speaking with the professor and then exiting.

Balsano turned himself in to Branchburg Police a few days later. According to police, Balsano said he had been hanging outside of West Building smoking with other students when one said “it would be cool” if he went to their classroom in his fireman gear to try to get the class to leave the building, possibly canceling the rest of the class.

Police said Balsano admitted going to the North Branch firehouse to retrieve his gear and then returning with it to the West Building, entering the classroom and telling the computer science class to evacuate.

“The professor was on the ball,” said RVCC Security Manager Dale Ford. “She used her senses to recognize that nothing was going on of an emergency nature. She confronted the individual and notified the proper authorities. I think the professor did a good job.”

The professor’s name is being withheld because the incident is still under investigation, he said.