As one of the most active fire departments in Burlington County, things are heating up at Willingboro Fire and EMS. To keep up with an increase of emergency calls, the department is rolling out a wide-spread volunteer recruitment campaign.
The four-year campaign will offer unique marketing strategies, including a newly-designed recruitment website to streamline volunteer inquiries, targeted social media ads, and a brand-new slogan, “Gear Up. Save Lives. Repeat. Are you WILLING?”
To get an idea of what life is like as a Willingboro Fire volunteer, community members are encouraged to visit willingborofirefighter.org to learn about the department and its members. There they can also begin the volunteer application process.
Willingboro Fire’s recruitment campaign runs through 2024 and is no cost to taxpayers. It is funded entirely through the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), awarded to the department this year.
Volunteer Today, Career Tomorrow
Willingboro Fire and EMS provides an environment for volunteers to flourish, not only by teaching practical skills, but offering opportunities to turn volunteer firefighting into a career as a firefighter, as many current members have.
Willingboro Fire and EMS offers advanced training for a variety of emergency calls, including extinguishing building and forest fires, automobile rescues and extractions, operating various rescue apparatus, and providing emergency medical care.
The department is seeking ambitious individuals to fill the following positions:
Volunteer Firefighter- Becoming a volunteer firefighter will teach practical skills including driving emergency vehicles, performing search and rescue operations, and administering basic first-aid skills. Leadership, critical thinking, and adaptability are just a few of the added benefits of becoming a firefighter.
Fire Police- In cases of emergencies, Fire Police assist with traffic control and working with crowds and other first responders.
Junior Firefighter- For those ages 16 and 17 who are looking to lend a helping hand in their community, the junior firefighter program introduces basic skills in fire and rescue training by participation in training sessions.
“Become a member of the Willingboro Fire Department and benefit from free training and a chance to use your skills on various types of incidents. Stop in and see us; your time is now,” says Chief Anthony Burnett.
To run the campaign and raise awareness of the need for volunteers, Willingboro Fire and EMS retained the services of The Communication Solutions Group Inc., a full-service public relations and marketing firm based in Jenkintown, Pa. The company successfully ran numerous recruitment and retention campaigns for past recipients of the SAFER grant across the Mid-Atlantic.
To learn more about Willingboro Fire and EMS, or to fill out an inquiry form, visit willingborofirefighter.org.