OPEN HOUSE
Trenton Fire Department hosts recruitment drive event and demonstrations for the public >>
TRENTON » City resident Joseph Fishburne is pursuing career ambitions to help promote public safety and provide for his wife and four kids.
“I want to be a firefighter,” Fishburne said while standing outside Trenton Fire Department headquarters Saturday afternoon. “It’s a good career. It could provide for my family. It’s in the city. I can’t beat a career like this.”
Fishburne, 30, attended TFD’s open house recruitment event Saturday, saying he has already taken the written exam in hopes of getting hired as a firefighter here in New Jersey’s capital city. “I’ve just been trying to get my foot in the door,” he said, “get the call so I can start.”
Steve Coltre, acting director of the Trenton Fire Department, said firefighting is “the best job in the world” and encouraged city residents to complete the online firefighter application before the open enrollment period ends Aug. 31.
The open enrollment period comes once every three years, according to Coltre, who told eligible city residents to “seize the moment” before the current window of opportunity closes. “The moment is now,” he said. “It’s going to go quick.”
The starting salary for an entry-level firefighter is $36,000, according to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “It’s a good job to start out in the city,” he said at Saturday’s open house event. “We have to fill the ranks of police and fire and EMS. This is a great way to showcase the fire department. They are in the front line of keeping public safety and protecting property.”
Firefighters respond to emergencies ranging from house fires to water rescues. Sometimes they have to go through burning buildings and cut through mangled vehicles to save lives. The job clearly has its dangers, but Fishburne said he is up for the challenge.
“I’m ready for all that,” he said of the daily dangers firefighters face. “I’ve been seeing worse things in life.” He wants to “keep up public safety,” he said, “try to change my life and help others who need to be helped.”
Other elected officials, including Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and members of Trenton City Council, joined Gusciora at TFD’s open house
event, which featured free food and gave aspiring firefighters a chance to mingle with Trenton’s bravest.
City firefighter and FMBA union leader Kevin Beyrouty said the open house recruitment drive was “nice,” adding, “We need more people from the city” to serve in TFD.
East Ward Councilman Joseph Harrison said Saturday was “a great day” for the city, adding, “It’s a day to promote opportunities for the people of Trenton to be a part of this fire department.”
Other councilmembers thanked the firefighters for their service. “We can’t thank the firefighters enough,” at-large Councilman Jerell Blakeley said, “for running into burning buildings when people are trying to leave.”
Firefighters at the open house performed a vehicular extrication, carving open a Mazda 3 sedan to demonstrate how a Jaws of Life-style rescue operation is conducted.
Among the people watching the live demonstration was city resident Kevin Jacobs,
29, who hopes to one day become a Trenton fireman. “I like the excitement,” he said. “I like being hands on with whatever I’m doing. I’ve been a lifeguard in the city since age 15. Saving lives, I’m all for that.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Trenton firefighter must complete a $35 online job application on the New Jersey Civil Service Commission website, meet the job requirements and pass a written and physical performance exam.