Getting To Know The Chatham Township Volunteer Firefighters

CHATHAM, NJ - Starting next week, the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department will be featuring brief videos of members of the department on their Facebook page in order for residents to learn more about their first responders.

"It’s important that we know the community and that they know us," Chief Matthew Lemons said. "Having that strong relationship and partnership is one of the most effective ways that we can help educate and ensure their continued safety.”

Lemons said in the videos residents will hear stories and get to know these first responders as well as learn fun facts about the CTVFD and the history of firefighting.

Every day the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department (CTVFD) protects the lives and property of the approximately 10,000 residents of Chatham Township. The 45 members of this all volunteer fire department answers calls 24x7, 365 days a year. Members represent a diversity of ages, backgrounds and experience.

Lemon noted that a sense of community is important CTVFD. Open houses, National Night Out, school visits and the Easter Eggstravaganza are some of the ways the members get to know the community and vice versa.

With these traditional ways have been put on hold during these unprecedented times so the CTVFD decided to bring the members to the community virtually until they all can be together again.

The CTVFD is projected to answer nearly 400 calls this year– everything from activated carbon monoxide and smoke alarms to culinary mishaps, vehicle accidents, structure fires and providing mutual aid to fire departments in neighboring communities.

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