Fire Police

The Fire Police Unit of the Raritan Township Fire Department consists of 14 members and a fire company elected captain. Members are trained by the New Jersey State Police to support the operational requirements of the fire and police departments at their respective or shared incidents. Fire service support includes traffic and crowd control as well as scene, apparatus, and station security. At fire scenes, they operate under the auspices of the local or state police, depending on jurisdiction.

Fire police can also assist regular police with traffic control and road closures (especially during severe weather conditions or accidents), crowd control at public events, missing person searches, and any other incidents requiring additional manpower. Since the fire police typically carry a large supply of traffic control equipment (flares, flashlights, cones, hazard tape, radios, etc.) they can secure a scene and free up the regular police for other emergencies.

Although some fire police have actual firefighter training, it is not a requirement. Specialized PPE (personal protective equipment) include highy visible reflective vests and weather specific outerwear. Members may respond to a scene in their personal vehicle or in 21-84.

Fire police exist in fourteen US states such as Delaware, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Pennsylvania, as well as in some other countries like Australia and New Zealand. In New Jersey, officers must take an oath of office and are sworn in by a judge, justice of the peace, or municipal clerk. If you are interested in joing RTFC's Fire Police, please stop by Station 1 on Monday evenings.