Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters

02/03/2025

Bill S-1416, sponsored by State Senator Jim Beach and Senator Troy Singleton, would require the development of a Statewide Emergency Medical Services Plan with both short-term and long-term objectives that is reviewed and updated every three years. In developing the plan, the OEMS would conduct an inventory of all emergency medical services resources available within the state, conduct an assessment of the current effectiveness of the emergency medical services system of care, determine the need for changes to the current emergency medical services system of care, develop performance metrics with regard to the delivery of emergency medical services and a method for monitoring whether those metrics are being achieved, as well as other considerations.

02/01/2025

Your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters are proud of the work we do and proud to be members of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

01/26/2025

JANUARY IS FIREFIGHTER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Did you know that approximately 1 in 4 of your retired Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters has been diagnosed with or is being monitored for cancer?

In response to these alarming numbers, your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters have been partnering with the Cherry Hill Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners (BOFC) and Office of the Fire Chief (OFC) to introduce measures to help protect our members from cancer.

Over the past few years, the CHFD has invested in gear washing and drying equipment that allow our members to frequently wash their personal protective equipment (PPE). This is in addition to having a program in place which ensure our members gear is sent out regularly to an authorized 3rd party vendor for inspection and repair.

Each of our members has also been issued a 2nd set of gear. This allows members to immediately change into clear gear when theirs becomes contaminated or is being washed, inspected or repaired. Members have also been issued second sets of gloves and hoods, and regularly have their primary sets of firefighting gear replaced.

Thanks to legislative accomplishments at the state level by the New Jersey Firefighters PFANJ, our firefighters are protected by presumptive cancer legislation. This means that cancers found in our firefighters are presumed to be an occupationally related. In addition, legislation allows our active firefighters to have access to comprehensive cancer screenings by United Diagnostic Services, LLC. A commitment by the CHFD and our union has also ensured these screenings have been made available to our retirees. These screenings are on top of regular general health physicals provided to all of our members.

The next step in our cancer prevention battle that we are excited to announce is a commitment to install exhaust removal systems in our stations. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, daily exposure to diesel exhaust in the firehouse can contribute to the development of cancer. Analysis of the kitchen, bunk room walls and furniture in firehouses reveal a tremendous amount of diesel exhaust particles. These dangerous particles are inhaled and absorbed every shift and cause significant harm to firefighters. Exhaust removal systems will help improve the air quality in our stations and create a safer work environment in our fire stations where our firefighters and Camden County IAFF Local 3249 and part-time EMS members live and work 24/7/365.

Your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters continue to work tirelessly to protect our active and retired members from cancer. We thank the CHFD BOFC, CHFD OFC, our members in IAFF Locals 2663 and 3198, the IAFF, the PFANJ, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, and many others for their partnerships in these efforts.

01/26/2025

Your A-Platoon Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters from Squad/HAMZAT 13 and Engine 1322/Foam 13 responded on Saturday, January 25, 2025 responded via automatic aid to the Route 295 and and Route 76 interchange in Bellmawr for an overturned pressurized tank truck carrying butane. Crews from multiple counties worked for several hours to mitigate the incident including "flaring off" a large amount of the truck's product in order to be able to safely move the truck from the site.

Full story via NJ Pen: https://www.njpen.com/breaking-overturned-fuel-truck-snarls-traffic-on-route-42-at-i-295-north/

01/24/2025

A great piece on Squrt 1341 Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Miller and the ongoing Cherry Hill Fire Department Firefighter hiring process! Come join our Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters!

01/20/2025

Your C-Platoon Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters and our mutual aid partners responded on Sunday night, January 19, 2025, to a fast-moving dwelling fire involving multiple units at the Tavistock Condominium complex.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries, but all building occupants were evacuated safely.

01/17/2025

Your A-Platoon Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters from Engine 1352, Battalion 13, and Safety 13 responded early Wednesday morning via automatic aid into Maple Shade and were first on scene of a rapidly spreading dwelling fire.

An early morning house fire in Woodlawn, New Jersey kept fire crews busy on Wednesday morning, officials said.

01/12/2025

JANUARY IS FIREFIGHTER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

• Approximately 1 in 4 of your retired Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters currently has, has been treated for, or is being monitored for cancer.

• Firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service.

• At the 2023 International Association of Fire Fighters Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, almost 66% of the names added to the wall from 2002-2023 were members who had died from occupational cancer.

• For 2024, approximately 75% of the Line of duty deaths of IAFF members were from Occupational Cancer.

In partnership with the IAFF and Firefighter Cancer Support Network, January is designated as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month to provide firefighters the necessary tools and guidance to develop life-saving protocols for cancer prevention and to support those with a cancer diagnosis within their departments.

01/10/2025

2025 FIREFIGHTER HIRING PROCESS NOW OPEN!

The Cherry Hill Fire Department (CHFD) testing process for career Firefighter/EMT positions is NOW OPEN through February 14, 2025. No experience is required - all firefighting training is provided by the CHFD. New Jersey state emergency medical technician (EMT) certification must be obtained prior to or within one year of employment but is not required at the time of hire. For more info and to begin the hiring process, please visit: https://qrco.de/2025CHFDTest

01/06/2025

Your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters are excited to have representatives on hand at the 2025 International Association of Fire Fighters Affiliate Leadership and Training Summit in New Orleans, LA.

will offer more than 100 presentations to ensure IAFF members are equipped with critical knowledge and tools to thrive both in and out of the line of duty. The event features programming that reflects the ongoing challenges facing labor leaders in the fire service including relevant topics like recruitment and retention, burnout prevention, PFAS and cancer research, su***de in the fire service, building local political power, crisis communications, union governance, fire fighter fitness, retiree healthcare, and more.

Nearly 2,000 affiliate leaders from across the United States and Canada attended last year’s ALTS and Cherry Hill Firefighters IAFF Local 2663 are honored to have FFs Adam Layden (left) and Mark Mondile (right) on hand this year in the Big Easy.

01/04/2025

Your B-Platoon Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters from Ladder 1324 and Safety 13 (Capt. Moore) responded Thursday via automatic aid into Pennsauken to assist on the scene on a fire in a row home.

Did you know that your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters respond nearly every day to our surrounding communities and beyond?

01/02/2025

2025 FIREFIGHTER HIRING PROCESS NOW OPEN
The Cherry Hill Fire Department (CHFD) testing process for career Firefighter/EMT positions is NOW OPEN through February 14, 2025. No experience is required - all firefighting training is provided by the CHFD. New Jersey state emergency medical technician (EMT) certification must be obtained prior to or within one year of employment but is not required at the time of hire. For more information and instructions on registering for the testing process, please visit: https://chnj.gov/1375/2025-Full-Time-FirefighterEMT-Hiring-Pro

12/26/2024

CHFD FIREFIGHTER HIRING PROCESS OPENS JANUARY 2, 2025
After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland native Lacey Heist sought a career path that would allow her to fulfill her goals and work with the best of the best. As a veteran, mom, and someone who loves working out, she's found that path by becoming a Firefighter/EMT in the Cherry Hill Fire Department.

You, too, can find a path that leads you to be the best you can be by joining the CHFD! The CHFD testing process for career Firefighter/EMTs will be open from January 2 through February 14, 2025. No experience is required - all firefighting training is provided by the CHFD. New Jersey state emergency medical technician (EMT) certification is not required at the time of hire but must be obtained prior to or within one year of employment. For more information and instructions on registering for the testing process, please visit: https://chnj.gov/1375/2025-Full-Time-FirefighterEMT-Hiring-Pro

12/26/2024

Your C-Platoon Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters from Squad 13 responded early on the morning of December 26 into neighboring Lawnside to assist on the scene of a fire in a commercial occupancy.

Several minutes later, Ladder 1324 responded via automatic aid into Pennsauken for a reported fire in an garden apartment complex.

Did you know that your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters respond nearly every day to emergencies in our neighboring communities and beyond?

12/23/2024

RETIREMENT OF FIREFIGHTER MAURITZ "MARTY" MARCUSSEN

Your Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters congratulate Ladder 1324 Firefighter Mauritz "Marty" Marcussen on his retirement after more than 20 years of service.

Your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters thank you for your dedicated and selfless service to our department, our community, and our nation as a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force.

12/22/2024

Thanks to the hard work of the International Association of Fire Fighters and several other national organized labor organizations, history was made this week in the United States Senate with the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. In a roll call vote, 76 senators voted in favor of the bill with 20 against. The bill which will increase Social Security benefits for close to 3 million federal, state and local public sector workers, including firefighters, police officers and teachers.

The Act — which already passed the House of Representatives with a 327-75 vote in November — eliminates two policies that have reduced Social Security benefits for public service employees for decades. The workers affected are those who are eligible for government pensions from jobs where they didn’t pay into Social Security but who did pay into the program through other jobs or whose spouses did so.

If the legislation is signed into law by President Joe Biden as expected, it would apply to all benefits payable after December 2023.

The IAFF's efforts, led by General President Edward A. Kelly and supported by the New Jersey Firefighters PFANJ and IAFF affiliates nationwide, will help overturn more than 40 years of unfair legislation that took hard earned money from the pockets of generations of retired public employees.

This is perhaps the most significant legislative victory in the HISTORY of our more than 100-year old union.

Although this Act will likely not impact current or former Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters as we do all pay into Social Security during our careers, we are proud to be an affiliate of an organization that works tirelessly at the local, state, national, and international levels to ensure the health, safety, and dignified retirement of its members across all 50 states and two countries.

Fairness is returning to Social Security for millions of retired fire fighters, police officers, teachers, and other public employees.

12/21/2024

Another busy day for your Cherry Hill Professional Firefighters. Ladder 1324 C-Platoon members operating Saturday morning at a 2-alarm fire in Camden City.

Did you know that your Cherry Hill Fire Department Professional Firefighters respond nearly every day to emergencies in our surrounding communities and beyond?

12/20/2024

Earlier this month, Retired Cherry Hill Fire Department Firefighter William Kamps, Jr. was remembered during the CHFD's Breakfast with Santa event. "Mister Kamps" was a fixture in the kitchen each year during the breakfast, with 2024 being the first time anyone could remember the event happening without him. Bill served as a career firefighter in the CHFD for 25 years prior to his retirement and passed away three years ago this month.

Pictured (left to right): Retired CHFD Fire Chief Tom Kolbe, Retired Firefighter Steve Funkhauser, and Retired Battalion Chief Bill Stallfort.