Critical shortage of volunteers forces Winslow Twp., NJ, fire houses to close

A Camden County town has been forced to close three fire stations and combine what little staff they do have into one location.

Winslow Township Fire Chief Marc Rigberg says they have been trying to work through a severe shortage of volunteers, but "the times and budget constraints have caught up with us."

Rigberg says at one time, the 60-square-mile township had nine fire stations and 140 volunteer firefighters to staff them.

Today, the department is down to just 35 volunteers and only 24 of them have received the required training to be considered "structural firefighters."

The severe manpower shortage, Rigberg says, has led to times when a call comes out for help and the department is unable to respond.

"This shortage has been communicated out to the community in a variety of ways many times over the last few years," Rigberg says, "but these efforts have fallen short of our needs."

By the end of 2024, the Tansboro, Albion, and Elm fire stations will close and be consolidated at the fire headquarters along Cedar Brook Road.

Shortage is not unique to Winslow Township

Townsquare Media has been reporting on volunteer firefighter shortages for years.

Nationally, the number of volunteers has dropped 24% since 1980.

That number is even higher in some areas of New Jersey and has forced many towns to hire paid firefighters to supplement a lack of volunteers.

Chief Rigberg says they've tried just about everything to attract new members, but the reality is people often "have many competing and often at times higher priorities, such as family commitments, employment, financial obligations, education and the like."

At the same time, Rigberg says the requirements to be certified as a firefighter have increased on a state, local, and federal level.

The chief was also quick to point out that the need to consolidate firehouses "is not reflective on our amazing and dedicated group of volunteer firefighters presently serving."

"The simple fact is that we do not have enough to properly sustain our operations and responses safely from multiple stations."

Winslow Township is actively looking for volunteer firefighters. If you are interested in volunteering, you can call 609-561-4225.