Evesham Fire-Rescue Announces Increased Fire and EMS Coverage; Launches Hiring Campaign
October 16, 2024 – Chief Carl Bittenbender and the Board of Fire Commissioners are pleased to announce that the introduced 2025 operating budget provides for funding to increase our in-house fire and EMS staffing.
Evesham Fire-Rescue utilizes a blend of full-time, per-diem, and volunteer members to provide fire and EMS (BLS transport) coverage to a population of 50,000 residents over 30 square miles. Our members respond from the District’s three stations, answering more than 7,600 calls for service annually.
To meet the increasing demand for emergency services, Evesham Fire-Rescue will be bolstering our in-house fire and EMS staffing with additional full-time firefighter/EMTs and full-time EMTs. This additional full-time staff will be integrated alongside our current, dedicated, full-time, per-diem and volunteer members. This deployment model will ensure that two of our stations are continually staffed with fire and EMS resources 24/7/365, and our third station is staffed during overnight hours. We anticipate hiring, training and deploying our newest members to achieve this coverage model by August 17, 2025, or sooner.
Evesham Fire-Rescue is launching our hiring campaign today, October 16, 2024, with applications being accepted until December 2, 2024. Written Testing and Physical Agility dates have also been announced in our Application Package. Evesham Fire-Rescue anticipates hiring 14 or more firefighter/EMTs and 3 EMTs in the first quarter of 2025.
To meet our goal, while also continuing to hire certified firefighters and EMTs, Evesham Fire-Rescue has modified our traditional hiring criteria. All firefighter/EMTs and EMTs now need one year of experience, reduced from two years of experience. Additionally, we will accept NREMT, PA-EMT and NY-EMT candidates, understanding that reciprocity to NJ-EMT will be a condition of employment.
Evesham Fire-Rescue offers many highly desirable working conditions. These include our well-maintained and updated apparatus and facilities; scheduling for firefighters on a 24/72 shift, and EMTs on a 12-hour dayshift Pitman rotation; seasonal and task-specific uniforms are provided, along with provision for leather helmets and boots. We are a progressive, all-hazards agency participating in the Burlington County USAR/LandSAR program. We practice the NJ BLS Expanded Scope of Practice and have a Medical Director. Opportunities exist to receive training in UAS operations, fire investigation and construction code plan reviews and inspections. Tuition reimbursement is provided for in the contract. Additionally, Evesham Fire-Rescue will sponsor our full-time EMTs in obtaining NJ Firefighter I certification, if they so desire. Full-time employees are provided representation by the Evesham Township Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 4687.
All application and hiring information is outlined in our Application Package which can be downloaded from here.
