A Guide for the Prospective Member |
Ever thought of a career in the fire service?
This guide was designed to help you, the men and women of the Township of Jackson, become familiar with our department and how our application process works.
Inside this brochure you will find several useful pieces of information including:
| +A letter from the Chief |
| +Why you would want to volunteer |
| +About our Organization |
| +How we Respond |
| +Our Mission Statement |
| +Opportunities in our department |
| +Benefits of Joining |
| +Our Expectations of you |
| +The Application process |
| +How to contact us |
| +NJ State Fireman's Association |
Dear Prospective Member,
I’d like to welcome you to our website, and thank you for stopping in. If you like what you see, let us know! Click over to our guestbook, and leave us your comments.
If you’ve reached this page, there’s a likely chance you may be interested in becoming a member of the Cassville Volunteer Fire Company.
At Cassville VFC #1, we pride ourselves on our ability to serve the residents of our fire district, as well as those to whom wherever we may be called to serve, with the highest level of training, efficiency, confidence, and professionalism.
It takes a certain special quality to want to volunteer in the emergency services, and it does ring true that not everyone is cut out for it. BUT, if you want to check it out and see if it’s for you, feel free to visit us at our stations during drill nights, or even if you pass by and see a group of members at the station, stop in, introduce yourself and ask some questions..
It takes a great committment, as it IS a job, with long hours and no pay, but there are many benefits, and along with these comes a level of personal pride, satisfaction, and high self esteem, in knowing that you’re doing something good for someone else besides yourself.
We provide all of your training, your equipment, and the means by which to use it, all you have to provide is the will and the want to do it.
The “Firefighting Fraternity” is always looking for a few more good people who want to help. Our neighbors and friends depend on us to be there to help when the chips are down. They know that we’ll be there whenever they need us.
So, if you think you have what it takes to become a firefighter, check us out. You’ll be glad you did.
Sincerely,
John I. Alchevsky
Chief
Cassville Vol. Fire Co. #1
-If you've ever seen a wailing fire engine, and wondered what was happening?
-Ever encountered an accident and wished you could help in some way.
-If you want to make life long friendships, or encounter new challenges.
-If you wish to become more involved with your community.
The field of Fire/Rescue is one of the most challenging, diverse, and exciting things you can do. Everyone volunteers for a different reason. Some like the adrenaline rush, some feel a calling, some feel the need to be a part of something greater than themselves. Whatever the reason is, ask any of them if they would trade their experiences with us for anything and the answer will always be the same, "Not in a million Years".
The Cassville Volunteer Fire Company #1 was established in 1939. Our coverage area encompasses more than 60% of Jackson Township. Since 1939 we have been comprised of the highest quality of "unpaid professionals".
We provide well trained, effective, safe and comprehensive fire fighting, extrication (jaws of life), specialized rescue, fire prevention, and the occasional saving of a cat from a tall tree, responding from two stations.
Our Main Station is at the corner of Toms River Road (571) and West Veterans Highway (528).
Our Sub Station is located on Miller Avenue, off Bowman road.
Our fleet currently includes:
-Two Chiefs Trucks
-Three Fire Engines
-One Quick Attack Engine
-One Platform Ladder Truck
-One Tractor Drawn Water Tanker
-Three Brush Trucks
-One Rescue Truck
-One Utility Pickup
-One Antique Fire Engine
Unlike the career departments in the big cities, we do not have scheduled duty hours. In order to keep up with today's busy schedules, volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Volunteers only respond during the hours they are available within our fire district.
Cassville Fire Company is dispatched` by the Ocean County Sheriffs Department via the 911 emergency call system. Once the 911 dispatcher receives the call, volunteers are notified via Motorola paging system with voice emitting capabilities.
Once we are dispatched, we respond to one of the two stations within our district, staff the appropriate pieces of apparatus, and then respond to the scene. The Chief officers will respond directly to the emergency scene in the Chiefs vehicles in order to get a head start on a plan of action for when the trucks arrive.
There is a wide scope of operations that we are called upon to do. Our coverage area (district) includes, the Six Flags Great Adventure Them Park, Six Flags Safari Park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbour Water Park, the Jackson Outlet Village, Jackson Memorial High School, two Jackson Elementary Schools, Jackson Board of Education, The Ocean County Library, Jackson Town Hall, Jackson Courthouse, Jackson Police and Office of Emergency Management, Jackson Public Works, two campgrounds, many restaurants, many Retail Stores, three fuel stations, Interstate 195, Highways 527, 528, 537, 539 and 571, Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, and your Home.
Firefighter / Rescue Technician
->If you love that feeling of accomplishment, working up a sweat, or love working with your hands, then this is for you. Our department offers an almost unlimited number of opportunities for you to learn new skills and put them to use immediately.
->Ever wondered how the jaws of life work? Come find out.
->Ever wondered just how hot it gets? Come find out.
->Ever wanted to know what's going on? Come find out.
Auxiliary Member
->If you want to be part of the fire company, but do not wish or are unable to perform active firefighting duties, then this is the place for you!
->The Cassville Fire Company Auxiliary is just as important as the company itself. The Auxiliary is the back up we need when we need to see a smiling face willing to help us with our chores.
->The Auxiliary helps the department in many ways, fund raising, refreshments at fire scenes, helping staff our firehouse events, just to name a few.
Junior Firefighter
->If you love that feeling of accomplishment, working up a sweat, or love working with your hands, then this is for you. Our department offers an almost unlimited number of opportunities for you to learn new skills and put them to use immediately.
->Ever wondered how the jaws of life work? Come find out.
->Ever wanted to know what's going on? Come find out.
->If you are age 16 or 17, this is a great way to involve yourself in the community, gain more friends, and a head start into the fire and emergency services.
There are more benefits to joining than we could possibly list in this small brochure, but here are a few just to give you an idea
Excellent Training
We provide you with all the training you will need to excel in every way in the duties we perform for the township.
Incentive programs
We offer an incentive program each month to which ever member responds to the most calls of service.
Personal Protective Equipment
Our business is a dangerous business, so in order to keep all our members as safe as possible we strive to keep up with the latest in safety gear for our firefighters.
Dress Uniforms
To make everyone feel part of the whole, our members are given a Full Dress Uniform for company functions such as parades, in order to show we are all "part of the same family".
Access to the Fire Company Web Page
All of our members are given access to and encouraged to use our company web page to show their friends and family the exciting things we do.
Company Contact List
A List of all members of the company and their contact information. We are all in this together and if you feel you need to talk to someone at three in the morning you can call any one of us because communication is key in your state of mind, and we've all been there.
We expect commitment, dedication, honesty, and the willingness to try your best to be the best. Our members need to be able to work as a team. Team work is the only way what we do can be done.
Often we are called upon to work in uncertain areas, perform strenuous tasks under extreme hot and cold conditions. You need to be able to work in an on-call environment and accept interruptions in your day to day life.
Tuesday night, is firehouse night. The first Tuesday of the month is our Truck Check night, where we inspect, test, clean and learn about the tools and trucks we use. Second and third Tuesday is a Drill night where we learn a new skill or refresh an old one and apply the knowledge we learn in a training exercise. The fourth Tuesday of each month is our regulary scheduled business meeting.
= You must be a resident of Jackson Township, NJ.
= You must be at least 16 years of age.
= You must pass a doctors physical examination.
= You must not have been convicted of a felony.
= You must present a NJ Motor Vehicles driver abstract.
= You must be available Tuesday nights between 7:30 and 9:30 for Meetings and Drills.
1. Each prospective member must complete and submit the standard fire department application along with a one dollar filling fee
2. The application, including a full physical, drivers license abstract, and photo ID, must be turned in to the Review Board at a regular business meeting for review of eligibility
3. Upon passing the Review Boards review, The application will be read in the business meeting for a vote by the members of the Fire Company. A majority vote by the general membership shall decide if the applicant is accepted or declined
4. Upon acceptance into Membership, a new recruit shall begin a one year probationary period according to the terms and conditions as set forth in the company by-laws
To obtain an application, you can stop at either station and simply ask for one, or you can call Justin Hanson at (732) 904-3314.
Or, if you prefer, you can send questions & comments to Doug Velting or Justin Hanson by clicking on the MEMBERS link and sending an email.
1.) AGE: Must be at least 18 years of age and not older than 45 years of age.
2.) EYES: Must be 20/30 corrected (with glasses, contacts, or surgical procedures).
3.) HEARING: Loss of hearing acuity so as to be unable to perceive sounds within normal voice range with or without hearing aid.
4.) NOSE: Any significant nasal obstruction to free breathing not subject to correction by surgery.
5.) MOUTH: Conditions which impair ability to communicate.
6.) NECK: Problems resulting from (a) Goiter; (b) Limited range of motion; which prohibits turning, extension or free movement of the neck; (c) Tracheotomy - existing openings at the lower portion of the neck connecting the windpipe to the outside environment for the purpose of easy breathing.
7.) PULMONARY: Problems resulting from loss or removal of a lung; (a) any Pulmonary disorder which would limit the applicants ability to perform (b) Pulmonary Function test below normal. (c) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Asthma.
8.) CARDIO PULMONARY SYSTEM: Problems resulting from Heart disease or cardiomegaly.
9.) PERIPHERAL VASCULAR SYSTEM: Problems resulting from (a) Varicose veins; (b) Aneurysms; (c) Lymphedma; (d) Thrombophlebitis; (e) Arteriosclerosis Oliterans; (f) Buerger's Disease; (g) Raynaud's Disease; (h) Arterio-Venous Fistula; (i) High Blood Pressure, not able to be corrected or controlled by medication. Acceptable blood pressure reading should be as follows: Systolic no higher than 150 but not lower than 90. Diastolic Maximum should be 100 mmhg, Minimum 50 mmhg.
10.) ABDOMEN: Problems resulting from (a) Organomegaly; (b) Signs of tenderness in an area; (c) Presence of masses such as hernias of various types.
11.) GENITOURINARY SYSTEM: Problems arising from (a) Presence of abnormal masses; (b) Abnormal discharges from any of the orifices; (c) Active venereal diseases; (d) Parastic diseases; (e) Varicocele and Varices, (f) Hydrocele.
12.) MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM: Problems arising from (a) Congenital malformation; (b) Limitation of Motion; (c) Weakness; (d) Impairment or absence of one or more of the digits on either or both hands; (e) Impairment of function of the hands; (f) Missing toes if it interferes with ambulation; (g) Deformities of the spine, pelvis, or extremities.
13.) OTHERS: Problems arising from (a) Disqualification for psychiatric conditions must be determined by local agencies; (b) Allergic conditions which are chronic and incapacitating; (c) Severe anemia; (d) Active peptic Ulcer; (e) Diabetes; (f) History of epilepsy or seizures other than documented febrile convulsions in childhood; (g) Alcoholism or drug addiction; (h) Removal of vital organs; (i) Any other condition not listed above which would render the eligible incapable of performing their duties as a fireperson.
