Do you fit the description of a Junior Member?

Between the age of 14-18. If not Click Here

Lives in Hopewell or our response area

Would like to learn more about becoming a firefighter or EMT

Ready to be adaptable and ready for anything

Excited and passionate to help out your community

WHAT WE DO

Being a Junior Member at the Hopewell Fire Department is more than just training

Friendships

You create life long friendships when you become a junior member

Learning

Learn life long skills in addition to training to become a firefighter and EMT

Networking

You will meet many people from many different professions who can help you with career moves and give you ideas

Trips

Junior Members train in other locations besides the firehouse like hospitals, other departments, conferences, medivac bases, etc.

Memories

You will create memories of a lifetime

Graduation

As a group, we have some older and younger members who will be great resources when you have questions on the classes you are taking.

Do you have what it takes to be a leader in your town?

Being a Junior Member is not always easy, but it is very rewarding.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

We do more than just train at the firehouse...

What are the past juniors up to now?
Image is not available
Erica Otters
Nursing Student
Image is not available
Landon Bowman
Farmer
Image is not available
Paulin Balasic
College Student
Image is not available
TJ Bruno
Academy Student
Slide 1
"Becoming a junior at Hopewell Fire Department led me to have many unique experiences. I was able to build upon my leadership skills and my confidence and has helped me as I pursue my bachelors in nursing."
Slide 2
"I like learning new things, not only pertaining to firefighting and EMS, but also life long skills."
"Being a junior at the Hopewell Fire Department has made me feel like I am more of a member of my community by giving me a change to give back and become more familiar with the people I grew up with. It has opened my eyes to new opportunities and connections and I am so lucky to have been given this incredible experience."
Slide 4
"Hopewell Fire Department has made a huge impact on my life for the better. It is such and amazing opportunity to be a part of this great team. From training and discipline, to learning so much, the department is a terrific start for anyone looking to get into the fire or medical service. You will meet so many new friends and make critical connections with those in the first responder field and more. It is such a shock looking back to how quickly this department grows on you and becoming a part of this amazing community."

 

JUNIOR ADVISORS

Olivia Obst EMT/Firefighter

Olivia has been a member of the Hopewell Fire Department since 2012, became an EMT at 16 years old in 2012 and a Firefighter at 18 in 2015. As a former Junior Member of HFD, she is passionate about inspiring highschool students to become Firefighters and EMT’s. Joining the fire department helped shape her life to what it is today. She became a Critical Care Nurse at Cooper University Hospital but still enjoys volunteering as a firefighter and EMT. Her favorite part of being a Junior Advisor is taking the junior members on unique trips like to the Regional Stroke center 

Chris Jones EMT/Firefighter

Chris started volunteering in mid 80's as a Junior himself. Chris has been actively volunteering for over 30 years, only missing a few years while in the US Coast Guard. He brings experience from  3 other departments before joining Hopewell Fire Department and has been involved leading Junior Members in every department including ours. Chris keeps his skills up as an active riding EMT and Firefighter and also as a Ski Patroller in Northern NJ.

 

Bryan Vetrecin Firefighter

Bryan joined the Hopewell Fire Department in November 2021 and got his Fire 1 certification in 2022. Bryan is passionate about teaching and participating with the junior program. His biggest enjoyment in the fire service is the opportunity for continuous learning and improvement. He enjoys emparting knowledge to the future firefighters and EMTs. Bryan currently rides on Thursday Crew as a firefighter and loves seeing the juniors succeed as they grow in the junior program.

Frankie Merrill EMT/Firefighter

Frank joined Hopewell Fire Department  in 2018 as a Firefighter/EMT.  He currently works as a career firefighter in North Plainfield and works as an EMT for Atlantic Mobile Health System.  Having been a first responder for 7 years, Frank brings tons of personal experiences to training the junior members. He is a big advocate for training and is constantly trying new ways and tactics to perform a job.  Mentoring and teaching the juniors at Hopewell Fire Department has been rewarding for him and is looking forward to sharing his knowledge to train the next generation.  

Marcus Jones EMT/Firefighter

Marcus has been around the Firehouse since he was a young child. When he was younger he would always volunteer to be the patient for the Cadets and Juniors to practice their skills on. He would clean up around the fire house and help wherever he could. When he had the opportunity to become a Cadet he jumped at it.  Marcus became an EMT at 16 and attended a Summertime Fire Academy in Morris County at 18. He has assisted numerous Junior and Senior members learn equipment on the Ambulances and trucks. Marcus currently works as an EMT for the Capitol Health System and part time EMT in Hunterdon County.

Shea Robinson EMT

Shea is a HVCHS 2020 graduate, who joined Hopewell Fire Department in 2016 as a Cadet when she just turned 14.  She enjoyed leaning to be a leader, the trips, lectures and praticals durning her Cadet and Junior membership.  Shea believes the vast amount of training she received to prepare her before she even started her EMT class reduced any stress of the class . Shea is currently an EMT and rides as an external Firefighter with the hopes of having time to attend Fire school in the near future.  Shea currently is studying to become an Register Nurse.

Deborah Jodrey Firefighter

Deb joined Hopewell Fire in 2021 and quickly got her Fire 1 certification in 2022. She is known for her tenacity and excitement in the fire service, where she helps juniors gain experience and passion for fire and EMS. She rides on Thursday Crew and is a community oriented firefighter who spends a great deal of time not only working locally, but also volunteering. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and playing with her two dogs.

Elysia and Sofie EMTs

Elysia Rodrigues and Sofie Ragins started out in the junior program, where they both became EMTs during their senior year of high school. They enjoyed participating in fire and EMS trainings, where they gained valuable skills to propel them in their future careers. Currently, Elysia attends Northeastern University and Sofie attends Emory University, both for pre-med. They return to volunteer during breaks, where they ride on Thursday Crew as EMTs and help guide the current cadets and juniors in the program, to give back to the same program that helped them.