FAQ

Call 9-1-1 without delay!

Great news! We are a 100% volunteer department & squad, meaning everything we do is free! You will not be receiving a bill from us, if you’d like to support us financially feel free to visit our donation page, and thank you for your support!

Residents sometimes ask us about the purpose of the horns you hear from our firehouse.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that volunteer fire departments maintain both a primary and secondary method of dispatch notification to ensure a consistent emergency response. While technology like pagers, smartphones, and the “I Am Responding” app help alert our volunteers, the horns remain an important backup/secondary notification source.

They:


✅ Provide a reliable, audible alert if a phone or pager isn’t nearby or is on silent.


✅ Operate even if internet or county dispatch systems go down, thanks to a generator and manual activation.


✅ Help get volunteers responding quickly-sometimes making the difference in saving a life.

In Fair Haven, the horns now sound only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m, 5 blasts for fire calls and 3 for EMS, a big change from decades past when they could sound 24/7, and up to 24 times for fire calls.

We know they can be loud, but they’re part of ensuring we can respond when our community needs us most. Thank you for understanding and supporting your volunteers! ❤️🚒🚑

No experience is required! We provide all training, including firefighter training at the Monmouth County Fire Academy and EMT or First Responder training for EMS. We welcome all willing volunteers.

Yes. You must be at least 18 years old to join as a full Firefighter or First Aid member. If you’re between 14–18, you can join our Cadet Programs to begin training early in a safe, structured environment.

Absolutely. We have Social, and Affiliate membership options for those who want to help with fundraising, events, logistics, or support roles during emergencies.

Yes! Many of our members are in college or have full-time schedules. Whether you’re home on breaks, commuting, or available only certain weekends, we’ll work with your availability. You can still train, respond to calls when you’re around, and stay involved as part of the department family. Every bit of help makes a difference!

The department includes Active Firefighters, a First Aid Squad, Fire Police, Water Rescue Unit, Auxiliary, and youth Cadet Programs. All work together to protect and support the Fair Haven community.

We encourage local residents to apply, but if you live in a surrounding town (Rumson, Little Silver, Red Bank, etc) and can respond quickly to emergencies, you are absolutely still eligible. Cadets also must live in Fair Haven or a neighboring town.

We understand that members have school, jobs, and families. Our roles are flexible, you give time when you’re available, and we’ll make sure you’re properly trained and supported.

Yes! Every member, from firefighters and EMTs to Cadets and Auxiliary members, serve on a volunteer basis. We’re proud of our tradition of service and our community’s continued support.