Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company Hosts Birthday Parties

A little while ago, Barnegat Volunteer Fire Company received a message from a local resident asking if she could take her child and guests to the firehouse for a little after-party tour. "Sure," responded fire department volunteers, and a new idea was born.

The township's firefighters started offering to host birthday parties for local children.

Since the fire company first started these, children's voices can be heard around the firehouse almost every Saturday.

"I think it's a great idea," said Jennifer Miletta, 34, of Barnegat. "I think it's very nice that the volunteers do this."

Her son, Gavin, celebrated his sixth birthday at the firehouse on Saturday.

"He loves fire trucks," Miletta said.

Dressed in a fireman's costume, Gavin took off his helmet in the beginning of the party to try on a real one. Then the president of the fire company Gary Brown placed a real fireman's coat over the little boy's shoulders for a moment.

"Heavy, right?" Brown said. 

Gavin and his guests also watched a volunteer put on his heavy firefighting gear. "So now you know it's just a man or a lady," Brown explained.

The kids were then treated to a ride in a fire truck around the block, and playtime with hoses.

Brown said they can't guarantee the rides around the block for every birthday, depending on the company's other needs, and cake cannot be eaten at the premises, but the volunteers who are available try the best they can to create a fun and educational experience for everyone.

"One of the goals since I became president is to increase our public image," Brown said. "Not that we had a bad public image,  we didn’t have a public image. We’re trying to raise that awareness that we’re here, trying to reach out to the community in more ways than just responding to fire calls."

Barnegat's all-volunteer fire company, which was founded 103 years ago, responded to 450 calls in 2011, and 111 calls this year so far, Brown said.

"Some people who moved here from up north considered that our firefighters are getting paid -- no, they aren't," Brown said. "The majority of New jersey fire departments is all-volunteer, which is a huge cost-saving intiative for any municipality."

Though some people give donations after the parties, which are appreciated, Brown said they are not required.

"I don’t want to put any pressure," Brown said. "I also don’t want people thinking that we’re doing it just for money, because we are really not. Part of being a firefighter is being a role model. It's just the right thing to do. And fire prevention kind of goes with the territory."

For more information about Barnegat Volunteer Fire company, visit http://www.station11.org/.