Firefighter Graduation Ceremony

 
It is with great pride and excitement that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Winslow Township Fire District #1 announces the graduation of Class 2008-001 of newly hired career firefighters to serve the residents of Winslow Township. 

Fourteen firefighters have recently completed a grueling four week program of instruction in Rescue, Vehicle Extrication, Confined Space, Pump and Ladder Operations, Rapid Intervention Team Operations as well as department procedures and protocols and will be deployed on Monday 31 March 2008.  These new firefighters also include a husband and wife team, Howard (Joe) and Candice Gordon of Sicklerville.  Most of these recruits are Winslow residents and current volunteer firefighters. One member, Robert Boettcher continues his training with the Atlantic City Fire Department Fire Academy, and is slated to graduate in June.

According to Anthony Sirolli, Winslow Twp Fire District’s Chairman, these new firefighters face an exciting career supplementing Winslow Township’s dedicated volunteers.  “It is rewarding to be able to hire your own people”, said Sirolli. Also adding, “these are not unknown entities, they represent the future of our Fire Department.”  Winslow hired its first group in 2006 to bolster responses during the daytime, when most residents are at work.  Michael Scardino, Winslow Township’s Fire Chief added, “we are, and will continue to be, a volunteer fire department supplemented by career staffing.  It is only because of the dedication of our volunteers that we haven’t had to make this step many years ago, like communities around us.  These men and women will help us answer alarms at times when our personnel resources are premium”.   The newly sworn members will work 12 hours shifts and rotate between the Township’s Sicklerville and Cedar Brook Stations.

Sirolli added: “Many newcomers to our community aren’t aware that we are a volunteer-based Fire Department.  Anyone interested in becoming a firefighter should contact us, we are always looking for people who want to help their community.”

Please join us on Friday 28 March 2008 at 7:00 pm for graduation and oaths of office planned to be held at the Winslow Township Municipal Building, 125 S. Route 73, Winslow Township, NJ 08037.  A reception will follow at the Waterford Fire Company, 304 Southard Avenue, Waterford, NJ 08089.