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Add as a preferred sourceRockaway Borough volunteer firefighters can now earn quarterly stipends for their time on calls, drills and training, after the Mayor and Council adopted Ordinance 26-21 at their Oct. 22, 2026 meeting.
The ordinance creates the Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment, Retention and Reimbursement Incentive Program for the Rockaway Volunteer Fire Department. It was introduced on Oct. 8 and adopted on second reading after a public hearing on Oct. 22, according to the adopted ordinance posted by the Borough. It takes effect upon final passage and publication, and payments for the current quarter, Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, will be prorated from the effective date.
The ordinance points to National Fire Protection Association figures showing the number of volunteer firefighters nationwide fell from 897,750 in 1984 to 676,900 in 2020, even as calls keep rising.
Who qualifies
Firefighters and junior firefighters must be active members in good standing, keep up their certifications and mandatory training, attend at least half of the quarter’s drills and respond to at least 25 percent of calls. Members on discipline are not eligible during that period. Members on military leave, or on medical leave from a fire service injury, are credited at the top tier for up to four quarters.
How much members can earn
Quarterly stipends are based on each member’s overall attendance at calls, drills, training and department events:
- At least 25 percent but under 50 percent: $250
- At least 50 percent but under 75 percent: $650
- 75 percent or more: $1,000
Officers can also receive a quarterly leadership stipend: $750 for the chief, $600 for the 1st assistant chief, $500 for the 2nd assistant chief, $400 for a captain, $300 for a 1st lieutenant and $200 for a 2nd lieutenant. The fire chief may also name an incentive administrator, who receives $500 a year. All combined stipends are capped at $8,000 per member per year.
Training reimbursement
Separately, the Borough can reimburse up to $2,800 per member for the cost of completing Firefighter I or Firefighter II training, as long as the member stays active for a year afterward. Up to three members can be reimbursed each year unless the council approves more, and others who qualify go on a waiting list.
All payments depend on annual funding, and the council can change or end the program by resolution. The ordinance states that members remain volunteers, not Borough employees, and that the stipends do not affect their Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) benefits. The fire department must report to the council each year on participation, costs and recruitment results.
The program applies only to the Rockaway Volunteer Fire Department in Rockaway Borough. Rockaway Township is a separate municipality with its own fire companies.
Thinking about joining? See our guide to the Rockaway Borough Fire Department: Firehouse, Phone Number, History and How to Join. Earlier coverage: Rockaway Borough Weighs Volunteer Firefighter Stipends Oct. 22.
