The paid or career division of the North Wildwood Fire Department was established with part-paid driver/operators, or “housemen” in the mid 1920’s. It’s first known Chief of record was Woodrow Hall around 1925. One Firefighter was on duty in each of the city’s firehouses of which there were two. Their jobs included not only extinguishing fires, but operating what was then considered modern day apparatus. They also took great care of the stations and some of them actually lived in them around the clock. The firehouses were located at 18th & New Jersey Ave’s which is now Woody’s Café and ironically was owned by the Hall family. The other station was located at 3rd & Central Aves in what was known as the Anglesea section of the city at that time. That building was a 3-story structure that also housed some city hall offices. A fire destroyed the top floor and eventually became a 2 story building containing only the fire department.

The department continued to respond out of the 18th Ave. house until 1927 when a new station was erected at 15th & Central Aves. This station was shared by both the paid and volunteer firefighters as was the 3rd Ave station.

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In 1943, the members of the department applied for and were accepted into the New Jersey State Firemen’s Benevolent Association and became North Wildwood FMBA Local 56. In 1945, elected officials established a paid fire department by city ordinance

In 1971, a new station was constructed for the Anglesea members at 2nd & New Jersey Aves. This lot was donated to the firemen by the ladies auxiliary so that they could build this station. The 3rd Ave house was simply too small for the newer apparatus that was being built. Firefighters continued responding out of this new station up until 1994, when it was decided that it was much safer for two firefighters to work and respond together, plus the city had envisioned to add a new entity to the department in the near future.

Firefighters were then combined into the 15th street station with two on duty until August of 1995 when that vision by the city had become reality. The fire department took on the responsibility of providing emergency medical services, and now responded to all medical incidents, further housing two ambulances in addition to their Engine. All career and part time firefighters as well as officers are now EMT certified. From approximately the 1940’s through the 1960’s, the fire department did provide ambulance service with one firefighter, sometimes two, driving it to incidents, and picking up the sick and injured, but unable to provide the level of care that we do today. That was only due to the lack of knowledge and training on the state level, we are sure that these firefighter’s took the necessary care for those patients the best they knew how, with the same energy and enthusiasm as they took in fighting a fire. It was then taken over by a newly formed volunteer rescue squad in the early 1970’s, and provided service through the early 1990’s. Now, as many as 6 firefighters man three pieces of equipment at the height of the summer season and provide protection to its residents and summer vacationers. In a sense, the department has come full circle

The current career division moved into a new station that was constructed for their use as well as the city’s Office of Emergency Management on November 30, 2000. The land it is built on was the former rescue squad building site. The department is now working a regular 4 on, 4 off, tour of duty, and each shift now has a Lieutenant, and a new Training Officer has been appointed. The Chief continues to work a dayshift during the week and the department also has a new secretary. The latest firefighters hired were in 2004 and included the first female firefighter in the history of the fire department. She is a welcomed addition to the staff.		Station 2 in construction phase.
The department has also placed into service a 2003 E-One Quint purchased by the city with the aid of a federal grant. This Quint replaces a 1978 American La France Century Pumper that the career division used for over 25 years

The current staff of Officers and Firefighters have progressed the department further in the past 2 years than it did the previous 10, and also included placing in service the jaws of life which were used only days after the department was certified in extrication.

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By far, the best item to have been implemented for the safety of both the firefighters and the public, is the automatic aid response to certain life hazard targets and any reported structure fire in both this City and the City of Wildwood. Both on duty shifts and apparatus respond to these incidents along with the aid of the volunteer companies, when needed. To date, this program has worked extremely well and it is looked upon with anticipation that this will continue.

At this juncture, the department continues its advance forward to provide the best medical care and fire protection that it can for it’s community that we serve so proudly.

Only a small outline of the history in this department is touched upon here, but there are much more detailed and personal stories about all of the members of North Wildwood’s professional fire service, past and present, and we are equally proud of this heritage. I am sure that each of them could tell of a major fire they fought, the rescue of a precious life, some of the equipment that they have seen over the years, some of the friends they made while fighting fires and eating smoke side by side, and even those who have watched each others families grow up and take great satisfaction in having those young people join their fathers and grandfathers in this profession. But one thing has always proven true about all of these folks whether it was in 1920 or today. This is a brotherhood in the finest sense, it is tradition in the highest regard, and it is as close a family that you will ever meet. Yes, we do the ultimate in protecting lives and property by putting our lives on the line every shift of our long careers, and take great pride in doing so, but we are the best at looking after this family that we so truly love.