photos courtesy of Upper Saddle River Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Upper Saddle River NJ, across New Jersey, small towns are struggling with a critical shortage of volunteer firefighters. As communities depend heavily on these first responders, fire departments are looking for new ways to attract recruits and keep stations staffed.
Volunteer Firefighter Numbers Are Declining
According to the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, only 8.3% of fire departments in the state are staffed by career firefighters. The remaining departments rely entirely on volunteers or a combination of both—a model that is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
🔥 “We need more people,” said John Johnson, Second Lieutenant at the Manchester Township Volunteer Fire Company.
🔥 “It’s been getting worse. We now reach emergent conditions,” added Bob Morris, Vice President of the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association. “Small town fire departments are going out of business because members don’t have time for training, and the demographics of small towns are changing.”
Creative Recruitment Efforts
Some towns are thinking outside the box to boost volunteer interest. The Upper Saddle River Fire Department has introduced birthday parties at the firehouse, hoping to inspire the next generation of firefighters from a young age.
Meanwhile, a statewide Special Task Force on Volunteer Retention and Recruitment has recommended innovative solutions, including:
✅ Integrating firefighter and EMT training into vocational and high schools, allowing students to graduate with career-ready skills.
✅ Expanding incentives and support for volunteers to help with training commitments.
The Financial Impact of Fewer Volunteers
If this trend continues, municipalities may face significant budget challenges. Hiring full-time firefighters is costly, and with a 2% property-tax cap in place, many towns cannot afford to replace volunteers with paid personnel.
“If we move away from volunteer firefighters, municipalities will struggle to keep up financially,” warned Michael Cerra, Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
How You Can Help
Becoming a volunteer firefighter is a rewarding way to serve your community and make a real difference. If you’re interested in learning more about joining your local fire department, reach out today—your town needs you!
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
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This has been going on for many years, it’s very simple hire a few fire/EMT employees that’s all is it that hard
Until you tax bill get raised to support the pay and benefits for these new employees.