Tim Cook, 59, didn’t start volunteering until his early 30s. He was always interested in the fire service, but says it took him a while to finally jump in. Once he started volunteering, he learned new skills such as firefighting, rescue diving and became an EMT.

Tim started at Ocean Beach Fire Company, worked his way up to Chief, and also served as Dive Captain and a training officer. He later transferred to Toms River Fire Company No. 2 and served as Captain there. He’s still active on the diving team and is also on the special operations team, which trains in rope rescue, collapse, water rescue and confined space.

“It is very satisfying being a volunteer in the Toms River Fire Department. I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone many times, and you find what you are capable of,” said Tim. “Although many times you are responding to someone’s worst day of their life, there is satisfaction in doing what you’re trained to do to save life and property.”

Tim has been married to Patsy Cook since 2003, and they have one son, Jack, age 16, who recently began volunteering. Although Tim’s station doesn’t have a junior program, Pleasant Plains Fire Company was happy to accept Jack.

“I wanted to join the junior program because I wanted to do the training and drills my dad was doing, and has been doing, almost every week since I was a kid,” said Jack. “I also wanted to make new friends and meet new people.”

Although Tim and Jack don’t get to volunteer together much, Tim says they talk “shop” a lot, and he teaches him skills when he can. Recently, they participated in the Tunnels to Towers 5K together in New York City, along with a few other firefighters from the Toms River Fire Department.

“We did it in full gear, except boots, and talked about what my dad did during the clean-up of 9/11 at ground zero,” said Jack.

The Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk is held on the last Sunday of September. The event symbolizes Stephen Siller’s final footsteps from the foot of the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, and pays homage to the 343 FDNY firefighters, law enforcement officers and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Tim and Jack are considering signing up for the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb in Philadelphia, where they will walk 50 floors in gear. Tim has done many different stair climbs with firefighters in Toms River and says they create friendly competition and camaraderie.

“The Fire Department provides gym memberships to encourage fitness,” said Tim. “Knowing the rigors of the job, I train continuously.”

He’s also competed in firefighting challenge competitions and met firefighters from all over the country and Canada.

“I have made lifelong friends with the brotherhood and sisterhood of the fire service,” said Tim. He’s looking forward to when Jack is old enough to ride the trucks and answer calls together.

Jack is a student at Toms River High School East and is a lifeguard at Island Beach State Park. He encourages other teens to join to learn new skills, gain strength and make new friends.

“It’s very fun,” said Jack. “I think the best skill that I have learned from the fire department is how to use ladders correctly and well, because it is useful for other things, like helping people with work.”

Toms River Fire Department is seeking more volunteers to join its team. Training and gear are provided. Learn more or sign up at www.trfire.org.