Gloucester Township's Under-The-Radar Elections: Fire Departments Seek Funds For Staffing

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Multiple Gloucester Township fire districts are holding referendums Saturday to address staffing issues and rising costs.

Gloucester Township has multiple fire departments, which are divided between six self-governing fire districts overseen by their respective fire commissioner boards.

Fire district elections in New Jersey take place annually on the third Saturday in February.

Polls are open from 2-9 p.m. this Saturday at each district's main fire station (see locations below). Eligible residents can also vote by mail.

New Jersey's fire district elections tend to fall under the radar. But this year, several local fire departments are urging residents to vote "yes" on spending measures to ensure adequate staffing and emergency-response times.

It comes as firefighter volunteerism declines around the nation, a trend the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) called "a crisis that's received very little attention, despite the enormous stakes."

U.S. volunteer fire service has lost almost a quarter of its members since 2008. Calls to fire departments have increased by 70 percent in that span, according to NFPA research.

Several of Gloucester Township's fire districts are holding referendums this weekend.

Gloucester Township Fire District 6 in Erial is among them. Erial's community firehouse used to be staffed only three days per week. Response times took minutes, and there were 230 fire incidents between September 2022 and last March in which no fire apparatus was available.

Last year, District 6 hired two more full-time firefighters, ensuring around-the-clock staffing with help from temporary, part-time employees. It has made a major difference in responding to emergencies, according to District 6 officials.

"All dispatched incidents have had a fire truck respond, and response times have dramatically improved to between SIXTY and NINETY SECONDS, on average," the fire district said in a statement.

District 6's referendum will maintain staffing at four firefighters at all times. If approved, it will cost homeowners an average of 70 percent per day.

Here's what else to know about the upcoming elections:

How To Find Your Fire District

There are six fire districts in Gloucester Township:

District 1

• Glendora Fire Company
• 29 7th Ave., Glendora
• Fire district website
• Fire company website

District 2

• Chews Landing Fire Department
• 43 Somerdale Rd., Blackwood
• Fire district website
• Fire company website

District 3

• Blenheim Fire Company
• 34 Almonesson Rd., Blackwood
• Fire district website
• Fire company website

District 4

• Blackwood Fire Company
• 14 W Central Ave., Blackwood
• Fire district website
• Fire company website

District 5

• Lambs Terrace Fire Company
• 1781 Sicklerville Rd., Sicklerville
• Fire district website

District 6

• 1946 Williamstown Rd., Erial
• Fire district website

Click here to identify the fire district you live in.

Referendums

Here's a rundown on some of the ballot questions that Gloucester Township residents can vote on in their respective fire districts.

District 1 (Glendora)

The ballot has two questions. The firsts asks voters whether to authorize $460,479 in spending for the 2026 fiscal year, while the second would allow District 1 to increase the fire tax by about 29 percent.

Currently, the district's annual fire tax is $213.50 for the average household at $175,000. An annual increase worth $61.92 annually is proposed.

Glendora Fire Company says the tax hike is necessary to address staffing shortages and rising costs, while maintaining high-quality service.

More info is below:

Polls are open from 2-9 p.m. Saturday at the Glendora Fire House.

District 2 (Chews Landing)

There are two proposals:

• Proposal 1: authorizing $2.9 million in spending for the fiscal year.
• Proposal 2: authorizing a tax increase of 7.83 percent, raising taxes by an average of $36 per year.

The figures in Proposal 2 are included in the Proposal 1 totals.

Additional funding would be used to hire two career firefighters, ensuring Squad Company 88 — a program shared with District 4 — is staffed with a minimum of four firefighters. More info.

Polls are open from 2-9 p.m. Saturday in the banquet hall (rear entrance) of the Chew Landing Fire Department (43 Somerdale Rd., Blackwood).

District 4 (Blackwood Fire Company)

Two proposals on the ballot:

• Proposal 1: authorizing $2.7 million for the 2026 fiscal year.
• Proposal 2: approving District 4 to appropriate $100,000 from its restricted fund balance.

The second question asks voters for approval to transfer "restricted" funds to an unrestricted purpose, which will be used to hire two career firefighters. The additional personnel will ensure Squad 88's shifts are staffed with at least four firefighters.

Approving Question 2 will not increase the fire tax. More info.

Polls are open from 2-9 p.m. Saturday at the Blackwood Fire Station (14 W Central Ave., Blackwood).

District 6 (Erial Fire Company)

The first question addresses the general budget, while the second would authorize hiring additional firefighters. Approval of Proposal 2 would raise taxes for the average resident by 70 cents per day. More info.

Polls are open from 2-9 p.m. Saturday at 1946 Williamstown-Erial Rd., Sicklerville.