The City of Jersey City swore in 37 new firefighters this morning, bolstering their department total up to 657 – where nearly 44 percent have been sworn in since 2013.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We continue to build upon one of the best fire departments this city has ever seen, which translates to greater protection for our residents, increased public safety, and the best fire protection possible for a city of our size,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.
“This is one of the largest classes I’ve had the honor of swearing in, and following the rigorous training they’ve endured over the past several months to get here, I’m confident we continue to be in the good hands of the best fire department in New Jersey.”
This latest class of firefighters to take the oath of office marks the 22nd JCFD class sworn in since Fulop took office.
Since 2013, a total of 289 new firefighters have been hired, bringing the department to a total of 657 uniformed firefighters and superiors.
The Jersey City Fire Department responds to nearly 1,500 fire calls a year and each fire academy class is required to complete an additional 3-month EMT certification course, partially funded through a federal SAFER grant, with each firefighter assigned to their firehouse fully EMT certified.
To date, every single firehouse in the city is fully staffed to provide daily, round the clock coverage.
“One of the first directives I received from the mayor when I took this job was to build the fire department to adequate staffing levels, and as a result, we’re reaching historic levels this city hasn’t seen in several decades,” added Public Safety Director James Shea.
“We have since surpassed our initial goals, and we will never stop expanding upon our efforts to ensure the safety of our city, every hour of every day.”
