With the summer season in full-swing, Toms River Fire District No.1 is increasing its community engagement by launching an awareness and recruitment campaign.

Comprised of Toms River Fire Companies #1 and #2, East Dover Fire Company, and Ocean Beach Fire Company, District No. 1 is one of the most active fire districts in the area. In 2020, District No.1 received 1,500 fire calls.

Campaign awareness efforts will include click-through social media ads, residential mailings, a ‘facts and figures’ newsletter, and increased participation at local events, including presentations in front of professional organizations and at school functions.

Made up of entirely volunteer firefighters, the fire companies respond to a wide variety of emergencies, from forest fires to ocean rescues, and each supply expertise in emergency response techniques. Toms River is also home to the largest municipal fire academy in New Jersey, offering high-quality equipment and unique training to its members, free of charge.

A new slogan, “Saving Lives from Woods to Water,” along with a newly designed recruitment website, will be used to leverage the campaign. To learn more about Toms River Fire District No. 1 and their fire companies, community members are invited to visit trfire.org. There, they can complete an inquiry form and begin the volunteer application process.

“Most people don’t think about how their fire department functions until an emergency occurs. They also don’t realize that we are 100% volunteer-run. To continue offering extensive training and new equipment to our firefighters, our goal within this campaign is to highlight the many ways District No. 1 positively impacts the community each day,” said District No. 1 Administrator, Brian Kubiel.

Volunteer Opportunities for All

The following volunteer opportunities are available:

Firefighter (Ages 18 and up)– Jump into action year-round to face challenging calls and improve emergency response skills. This role requires a minimum completion of levels 1 and 2 training at our world-class municipal fire academy, as well as a valid driver’s license.

Junior Firefighter (Ages 16-17)– Serve your community alongside firefighters at local events and gain experience and the skills necessary to take on the responsibilities of a trained firefighter under supervision.

Fire Police– Assist with traffic control at the scene of fires and motor vehicle crashes. Fire Police keep the emergency responses running smoothly.

Administrative– Aid the department in recruitment efforts, event planning and incident reporting.

Safety Officer– With a minimum of 10 years of firefighting experience and the completion of Incident Safety Officer Training and Incident Management Level II Certification, Safety Officers can expect to oversee:

• • Risk Management Planning
  • Station, Equipment and Facility Inspections
  • Accident Analysis
  • Safety Training
  • Department Guidelines
  • NFPA and OSHA Compliance

Seasonal Volunteer– Not a full-time resident of Toms River? District No. 1 always has room for seasonal volunteers to aid the increased call volume in the summer months.

To run the campaign and raise awareness of the need for volunteers, Toms River Fire District No.1 retained the services of The Communication Solutions Group Inc., a full-service public relations and marketing firm based in Jenkintown, Pa. The company successfully ran numerous recruitment and retention campaigns for fire departments across the Mid-Atlantic.

To learn more about Toms River Fire District No.1 or to fill out an inquiry form, visit trfire.org