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Crime & Safety

Montville Fire Chief Has 37 Years of Training and Experience

John Osborne volunteers more than 40 hours a month.

  • Name:  John Osborne, 58, is the Chief of the Montville Volunteer Fire Department. The Boonton native moved over the border, into Montville, 27 years ago. “It looked like a really nice place to live,” said Osborne of the community. “There were still some farms around and things like that.”
  • Married: Osborne and his wife, who is a Kinnelon native, have been married 31 years. They have two children, a son, 29, and a 25-year-old daughter. The couple purchased their house in 1984, and they’ve “been here ever since,” said Osborne.
  • Serves On: Close to seventeen years ago, Osborne joined the . “My family has a long history of firemen,” he said. “I started out in Boonton, as a fireman. My grandfather, my uncles, all my brothers, are all firemen, and they were all firemen in Boonton. When I came to Montville I was here a few years and I said, ‘You know, I’m in Montville, I’m gonna help them out now.’”  For the past 8 years, Osborne has served as fire chief. The elected office is a two year term that he has won four times. With the title comes the need for more training to meet state requirements. “It’s just experience and training,” he said.
  • Most Difficult: “Right now I would say it’s the paperwork and the training that is required by the state,” Osborne noted. “And trying to keep the membership. Today it is very difficult. People have to work two jobs. You want them to be volunteers, but, yet, they have to do a balancing act, and it’s very hard to do today. So, yeah, you gotta try to keep their interest, and hopefully they stay as firemen.”Montville Township has three volunteer fire districts within its borders. The Montville Volunteer Fire Department’s territory protects about 7,000 of Montville’s 21,000 residents. The three fire districts “Work closely together,” said Osborne, explaining that the squads often train together.  If needed, they also help each other fight fires. “That’s called mutual aid,” Osborne said. There are 45 volunteer firemen on the Montville Volunteer Fire Department rolls, “and about 28 to 30 of them are still active,” he added. “We have some members that have 40 or 45 years that are still active.” Between his service in both Boonton and Montville, Osborne has served 37 years as a volunteer fireman.
  • Most Rewarding: “As the fire chief, the reward you see when the firemen show up on the scene and the dedication they have,” Osborne said. “That is the most rewarding thing I can say, as a volunteer.” Osborne notes that the squad’s youngest members are two junior fire fighters, both 17-year-old girls, who will be taking full Fire Fighter Training 1 courses this summer. The oldest member is 86. While he no longer fights fires, he is still active with fundraisers, picnics and other social events that help build camaraderie. “It’s like a family,” added Osborne. “They are a very dedicated group of people.”
  • Time: Depending on the week, as the fire chief, Osborne volunteers about 35 or 40 hours per month, “with the paperwork,” he added. “But,” noted “When I call a work detail, or ask for help, the squad comes out.”
  • Why A Volunteer Squad: “It works because it cuts down on your costs,” Osborne said. “In a paid fire department you have to have minimum staffing levels, you have to have benefits, and you have to have 24/7 coverage. As volunteers we cover 24/7, but we’re all around at different times of the day. And if you need more help you make one radio call and you’ll have Towaco or Pine Brook crews coming in to help.” In addition to fires, fire fighters pump out cellars after floods, respond to downed power lines and car accidents, and are trained in ice rescue, “We have a lot of water in Montville,” Osborne noted.
  • Career: Osborne works full time as a computer support specialist for ITT Corporation.
  • Hobbies: Without hesitation, Osborne noted that he enjoys golf, and counts the fire department among his hobbies. He also said he enjoys sports.
  • Philosophy: “One day at a time, cause life is short. Enjoy it while you can.”
  • Wants Others to Know About Squad: “It’s the dedication and strength that we have as volunteers to help someone and get the personal satisfaction out of being able to help someone,” Osborne said. Both men and women can join the squad as early as 16 years of age. Younger members serve as Junior Fire Fighters who assist fire fighters on the scene of a fire. At 17, volunteers can receive Fire Fighter 1 Training, which allows individuals to enter a burning building once they turn 18. “It’s a fun thing, there’s some hard work in it, but, it’s a very rewarding experience.”
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