Fire Department · Combination
Lakewood Fire Department
Lakewood, NJ · Ocean County
32 full-time career firefighters, supplemented by active volunteer firefighting companies
No active openings right now
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Department careers page ↗Lakewood Fire Department traces its roots to October 31, 1888, when about two dozen residents fought a barn fire on Madison Avenue with borrowed equipment and went on to organize as a formal company, electing James Westhall as its first chief. The department grew from an all-volunteer operation into a combination department over the following century, adding its first paid employee in 1904 and its first paid driver in 1915, and expanding to five volunteer companies by the 1920s. In 2020, the chief position became a full-time role overseeing both the career and volunteer divisions.
Today the department operates eight stations, staffed by a mix of career and volunteer personnel, including 32 full-time career firefighters supplemented by active volunteer companies. It covers 25 square miles and more than 135,000 residents and visitors along the Jersey Shore, running a fleet of 18 apparatus - seven engines, two ladder trucks, a tower ladder, a brush truck, chief vehicles, a rehab unit, and preserved antique apparatus - and responding to more than 4,000 calls for service annually.
Lakewood Fire District is governed by a Board of Fire Commissioners. The department maintains an active volunteer recruitment pipeline requiring more than 280 hours of fire academy training in a new member's first year, and periodically hires career firefighters through the New Jersey Civil Service Commission examination process.
MissionProtect the lives, property, and environment of the residents and visitors of Lakewood, New Jersey.
Lakewood Fire District is currently accepting applications for entry-level career firefighter through the New Jersey Civil Service Commission's 2026 examination, with a filing deadline of August 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Testing is scheduled for December 2026 and January 2027, with results expected in March 2027. Separately, the department continuously recruits volunteer firefighters, who complete more than 280 hours of academy training in their first year.
Requirements
- Age 18 or older
- Reside in Lakewood Township or a contiguous municipality within 10 miles of a firehouse (volunteer applicants)
- U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S.
- Valid New Jersey driver's license
- Pass a background check and physical exam
- Complete 280+ hours of Fire Academy training within the first year (volunteer members)
Volunteer firefighters must complete more than 280 hours of Fire Academy training within their first year of service.
Is Lakewood Fire Department currently hiring career firefighters?
Yes. The department is accepting applications for an entry-level firefighter position through the New Jersey Civil Service Commission's 2026 examination, with a filing deadline of August 31, 2026. Testing is set for December 2026 and January 2027, with results expected in March 2027.
How do I become a volunteer firefighter with Lakewood Fire Department?
Applicants must be 18 or older, reside in Lakewood Township or a contiguous municipality within 10 miles of a firehouse, be a U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S., hold a valid New Jersey driver's license, and pass a background check and physical exam. New volunteers complete more than 280 hours of Fire Academy training in their first year.
How many stations does Lakewood Fire Department operate?
The department operates eight stations, including its headquarters, staffed by a combination of career and volunteer personnel.
What area does Lakewood Fire Department serve?
The department covers 25 square miles and serves more than 135,000 residents and visitors in Lakewood, New Jersey, on the Jersey Shore.
When was Lakewood Fire Department founded?
The department traces its origins to October 31, 1888, when residents organized after fighting a barn fire with borrowed equipment; James Westhall was elected its first chief.