Michael Brophy has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 40 years, and says, “You’re never too old to learn new things.”

When Michael moved from North Jersey to Toms River, one of the first things he did was sign up to volunteer at Ocean Beach Fire Company.

“In North Jersey, we responded to almost all structural fires. Here, we also have structural fires, but being surrounded by water, we use the fire boat and respond to water rescue calls at the beach. This was something new to me,” said Michael.

Michael is a year-round volunteer firefighter and Vice President of the company. More seasonal volunteers are needed at Ocean Beach Fire Company, especially over the summer.

“When the weather is nicer in early May to November a lot more people are here and the call volume is higher than the winter months,” said Michael.

To anyone considering volunteering, there are a lot of benefits with the Toms River Fire Department.

“We are very fortunate in Toms River. All the equipment and training that you need is provided for you,” said Michael. “It feels good to be part of the community and help people. You’ll also meet new people that you probably wouldn’t meet otherwise.”

One of Michael’s favorite parts of firefighting is the tight-knit group.

“I’ve made really good friends here and there’s a lot of camaraderie. Volunteering teaches you how to work well together and train to accomplish a goal,” he said.

Michael is a retired police officer and currently works at the Toms River Office for Emergency Management as a Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.

“I’ve enjoyed firefighting all my life. I still love it and hope to have many more years doing it,” he said.

Sign up to volunteer at https://trfire.org/apply-now/