the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, Fire departments across the United States are battling more than just flames — they’re fighting a dangerous shortage of volunteer firefighters, and the impact is being felt most in small towns like those across New Jersey.
Want to make a difference and serve your community? Join our proud organization with with over 110 years of service…we’re all volunteers!
Email: Recruitment@hhkfire.comWe are seeking members for our junior program. Stop down any Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the firehouse or email fdchief@midlandparknj.gov
According to data from the United States Fire Administration, the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped sharply over the past four decades — from 897,000 in 1984 to just 676,000 today. This decline is putting increasing strain on communities that depend heavily on volunteers for emergency response.
🚨 NJ Towns Feeling the Pressure
In South Brunswick, the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 has protected the community for over a century. But now, Chief Chris Ciabattone says staffing shortages are making it harder to respond effectively to emergencies.
“In a perfect world, we’d roll a few pieces of apparatus for each call,” said Ciabattone. “But sometimes we don’t have that luxury.”
Lt. Cheng-Yu Lee, who volunteers at Kingston while balancing a full-time marketing career, says he finds purpose in serving.
“To save someone from those situations is just so rewarding,” Lee said. He also mentors junior firefighters in hopes of inspiring the next generation. “I wish I knew about volunteer firefighting when I was younger.”
📉 Why Are Volunteers Declining?
Experts point to several key factors:
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Time-consuming training requirements
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Work and family obligations
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Lack of awareness about volunteer opportunities
Dennis Allen, Ocean County’s Chief Fire Marshal, explains that firefighters — paid or volunteer — must undergo hundreds of hours of training, which can deter potential recruits.
“Volunteers are getting scarce because of work obligations, family obligations, and the training obligations,” Allen said.
🔧 Solutions on the Table
A New Jersey task force on firefighter retention and recruitment issued a report in 2023 recommending that volunteer training be condensed without sacrificing safety or competency. The idea is to make volunteer service more accessible to those who want to help but can’t commit to extended courses.
“Could they scale back a little bit of the training? I believe so,” Allen added.
❤️ A Call to Action
Back in South Brunswick, Lt. Lee remains committed to his hometown.
“I not only dedicate myself to being a firefighter — I’m dedicating myself to being a South Brunswick firefighter. Because I’m going to live here until the day I die,” he said.
His message, and the message from departments across the nation, is clear: volunteer firefighters are needed now more than ever. If you’ve ever thought about stepping up, your community could be depending on you.
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Villages and towns need paid firefighter departments, supported by volunteers if available. Cut costs by regionalizing the fire service. Does every surrounding community need its own pumpers, ladder pipes, a fire chief, and all that involves? No, it does not. Imagine having volunteer police officers, DPW workers, building inspectors, or court staff? It won’t happen because it makes sense.
It won’t happen because like every other civil service position there is a union and the “Hero” mentality of said positions. High Six figure salaries and absurd pensions for the select connected few. We as citizens paying the tax that continues this charade. Where does it end?
Taxation without representation? Take a good look at the parade coming up and tell me if you notice the illusion…more FD PD and municipal vehicles than you can shake a stick at all from individual towns (fiefdoms)
It needs to end… NOW