Looking for info/input on NJ Fire and Rescue

[Chief Complaint]

Hey all, just wondering if anyone here has any information or experience with Fire and Rescue in the state of NJ...Somerset County to be exact.

Im actually considering relocating to where my girlfriend lives (insane, i know) and i dont know much about how their system works up there.

I did a very quick Google search and all of the stations i found were only accepting volunteer applications. Im guessing that means that nobody is putting any recruit classes through in the near future?

NYC is very close so im also assuming that jobs are scarce in northern Jersey as well.

Any information would be very helpful. Thanks!

 

[DrParasite]

Somerset county has an almost entirely volunteer fire department system. I think there is only one department that has career staff, and they are combination with 3 guys on 24/7 staffing the engine & the ladder.

ALS is hospital based statewide.

for much of the state, if you want to become a firefighter, you need to live in the TOWN/CITY you want to hope to get the job in. Plus several towns are in the process of laying off cops and FFs, and those that are laid off get put on the list above new hires.

There are no county wide fire departments in NJ, the closest thing is North Hudson Regional.

I know it's not the good news you were expecting, but I hope it gives you the information you were looking for.

 

[medicsb]

Most paid FDs faced being down-sized. Some actually were down-sized. You will NOT get a job as a Paramedic/Firefighter (they don't exist) anywhere in the state. Actually, you probably won't get any job as a fire fighter as they're extremely competative and not hiring. You may be able to get an EMT position w/ an FD. Some of the FD EMT jobs actually pay really well.

As I see you're a medic, the main ALS service for Somerset County Somerset Medical Center. I believe they have 3 or 4 medic units. MICUs covering areas close to Somerset: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, Atlantic Ambulance (part of Atlantic Health System in Morris County), and RWJUH at Rahway also has 2 MICUs (The MICU North of New Brunswick).

If you're going to work as a medic in NJ, get used to calling command for every patient. You can do a lot, but you often need orders (e.g. RSI). You'll usually be busy and see a lot of sick patients. Working as a medic in NJ is very frustrating but it can also be quite rewarding. It's not as bad as some people like to make it seem.