Erin Seneca always wanted to be a volunteer firefighter. She began volunteering as an EMT in 2006 but didn’t start firefighting until her thirties.

“It was something I always wanted to do, and I didn’t do it until I moved to Toms River,” said Seneca.

She joined East Dover Fire Company, part of the Toms River Fire Department, as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in 2020 when her daughter was one. Now, Harper is six, and her son, DJ, is four. Seneca also works as a Calculus 2 teacher at High Technology High School and is in her 20th year of teaching.

“Balancing work, family and volunteering is the trickiest part,” said Seneca. “I appreciate the officers and fellow firefighters for understanding that I don’t always have childcare. When I’m not there, it’s not because I don’t want to be there, but because I can’t.”

Seneca’s kids are too young to be left home alone, and she tries to make it to the fire department whenever she can, prioritizing drills and meeting nights.

“The drill nights are important because that’s our training, and I want to stay on top of new strategies and continue learning,” she said.

Conveniently, the fire academy is also in Toms River, and Seneca began working as an instructor there about six months ago, picking up shifts when she can. When answering calls, Seneca focuses on the task at hand and what she’s been trained to do.

“The goal is always to help people on the worst day of their life,” said Seneca. “The compassion you have in the aftermath of a call only intensifies as a parent.”

Seneca also involves her kids as much as she can with the fire department.

“My kids absolutely love the Santa Run,” she said. “Our fire department hosts a Christmas party for fire members’ kids and Santa comes. That’s their favorite weekend of the year.”

Erin gifted her kids matching radio straps for Christmas.

Seneca has been involved in the fire service since she was a kid, too. Growing up, her grandfather and uncles were firefighters, and every year they attended the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association Convention in Wildwood. Now, Seneca attends with her children, and they love to see all the different fire trucks.

“My son is four and says he wants to be a firefighter every day,” says Seneca. “He wants to get in every truck he can and sit in every seat.”

Regardless of whether her kids become firefighters or not, Seneca says she hopes they learn the importance of giving back to the community, helping other people, and doing what they love to do.

Toms River Fire Department is seeking firefighters and junior firefighters to join its volunteer team. Training and gear are provided. Learn more at https://trfire.org/