The volunteer call force or “Callmen” supplement the career firefighters and are all trained at least to the level of Firefighter 1.  If they do not have that certification when the join the department we will send them to fire school and they must obtain it within their first year of membership.

Once they join, they are assigned to one of the four platoons in order to become familiar with the department. They are given a training manual that covers all aspects of our department, as well as every basic topic in firefighting. The platoon officers work with each new member in order for them to satisfactorily complete all topics in the manual.

There is also a scheduled monthly training drill on the first Wednesday night of each month, but they are encouraged to participate in any other platoon training that the department conducts.   The Callmen must meet and maintain all the same mandatory requirements as career firefighters that are required by law.  

Call force members are enrolled in the Borough’s LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program) and also receive a bi-annual stipend if they qualify.  The minimum requirements to earn the stipend are as follows: they must participate in a minimum of 3 drills per half year period, with an opportunity to make-up missed drills and they must respond to at least 10% of the fire incidents when they are requested. 

As with any other agency that depends on volunteer support, we continue to experience a fluctuation in the number of persons willing and capable of serving as volunteer firefighters. If you are interested in volunteering, come down to headquarters at 8 Lincoln Place for an application. You must be at least 18 years of age, possess a valid NJ driver’s license, pass a medical/physical examination and pass a State & FBI criminal background investigation.