Volunteer’s Needed
East Greenwich Township Fire & Rescue is always looking for new volunteer members to join the Department and serve the community and residents of East Greenwich Township.
What does it take to become a firefighter?
When someone decides they want to become a firefighter, they are searching for a very rewarding endeavor. Being a firefighter means you want to help people and be a big part of your community. It's not just putting out fires or saving lives, it is the constant caring about people and their health and making the community a better and safer place to live. Being a firefighter means that you become part of a huge and caring family. A firefighter has a lot of pride and satisfaction in their work and just feels good about what they do.
The decision to become a firefighter is one that has to take careful consideration; you must be very dedicated to the choice you make. A firefighter must have a lot of courage and want to risk their lives to save other people. You must be very unselfish and very devoted. Becoming a firefighter is not an easy task, it takes a lot of long hours studying and training. When training to become a firefighter you must train with the most effectiveness as possible. The long hours to become a firefighter and the long hours of being a firefighter is sometimes not desired by many. But for the men and women who have become a firefighter, the rewards of saving lives and touching so many lives is more gratifying to them than the long hours they are subjected to.
Some of the daily responsibilities include responding to incidents involving emergency calls. A firefighter is also responsible for on scene communication which provides complete coordination of all firefighter personnel during their arrival to the scene and during the emergency. Another responsibility involves driving the fire trucks to and from the emergency scenes and operating the emergency apparatus of the fire truck. That is why it is important to have an outstanding driving record and no previous incidences. The firefighter has to be an outstanding citizen in all areas, not just with a driving record.
A firefighter must learn and perfect the pump operations of the fire truck and fire hydrant; including hoses, spanner wrenches and knowing the proper pressure and volume that should be used. Being properly trained on all fire extinguishers and what types are used for each type of fire you come in contact with. Learning the mechanical and manual operation of all ladders on the fire trucks and how to properly handle them when raising them and lowering them. Another very important task they must master is how to properly force entry into buildings that are on fire and the proper way to determine which entry is safe and not safe. Firefighters need to know exactly what type of ventilation is available and how to increase the ventilation by opening doors or windows without compromising the scene.
Volunteer firefighters may also spend their volunteer shift helping out with administrative duties at the station, such as preparing correspondence, filing and creating reports. They may also spend time doing maintenance work around the station, cleaning equipment, and washing and preparing the fire trucks and other response vehicles.
Volunteer firefighting is a very rewarding and valuable way to serve your community. It takes dedication and many hours of training to become a firefighter. If you're willing to put in the time and effort, East Greenwich Twp. Fire & Rescue is ready for you to serve.
Anyone wishing to find out more about firefighting or wants to become a volunteer firefighter is urged to contact:
EGTFR PRESIDENT: Kevin Burbage 856-304-0366
East Greenwich Township Fire & Rescue
Mid-Town Station North Station
5 W Cohawkin Rd 5 Mantua Rd
Clarksboro NJ 08020 Mount Royal NJ 08061
Fire Department Meeting Night, First Tuesday of the Month 7pm Mount Royal Station.
