Post by admin on Jun 11, 2008 6:01:04 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0611/front_page/005.html
New chief takes reins in Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - While most people are seen running away from a burning building, others, like Jack Reichman, are seen running into one.
Reichman is a firefighter. He is also the newly elected chief of the Freehold Fire Department.
Reichman, 48, was sworn in as chief of the fire department at a Borough Council meeting on June 2. He was joined by his wife, Elaynea, and children, Michael, 19, and Stephanie, 17. Reichman will serve as chief for two years.
Reichman, who has been a member of the department's Engine No. 1 since 1990, worked his way up the fire department ladder, spending two years as second assistant chief and two years as first assistant chief.
He said being a firefighter is exciting and said he enjoys working with people and helping others. His volunteer position with the fire department provides him with ample opportunity to do both.
"It really is a good fit for me," Reichman said.
The new chief was born in Manhattan and moved to Freehold Borough with his family in 1969 at the age of 10. He graduated from the former Hudson Street School and from Freehold High School.
After graduating from high school, Reichman went to work with his father in the garment industry.
It was at that time that he decided to become a firefighter. He said many of his high school friends were members of the East Freehold Fire Company in Freehold Township, so the logical move was to sign up for training and become a member of that organization, which he did in 1980. He stayed with the East Freehold Fire Company until 1984, when he moved to Manasquan for a few years.
Reichman eventually returned to Freehold Borough and became a member of Engine No. 1 in the Freehold Fire Department, where he has been since 1990.
He left the garment industry and took a position with Quest Diagnostics, East Brunswick. He has been with the company for 13 years and currently works as a fleet route administrator.
Reichman said his goal as chief will be to keep the fire department running efficiently.
Attending meetings is a regular occurrence for members of the fire department, but being chief means attending more meetings, sometimes three or four a week, according to Reichman. He said that as chief he will be invited to attend all of the meetings held by various committees in the department.
The chief said he enjoys working with the young people who are enrolled in the fire department's junior firefighters program.
"This is a fantastic program, one of the best," Reichman said. "It gets harder and harder to get volunteers to sign up for the amount of schooling and training required (to become a firefighter). The junior firefighters program allows us to get people into the department when they are young and still have the time to make that commitment to the training, and it also allows us to turn out a great firefighter."
Reichman said he loves being a part the fire department and sharing the camaraderie among his fellow firefighters.
"We're all there for the same reason, to help people," he said. "You worry when you're in the midst of a fire, what happens if I go down? Will there be someone there for you? Everyone risks their lives, but we are all there to watch each other's back. We all depend on each other and we know we can count on one another. We're like a big family."
New chief takes reins in Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - While most people are seen running away from a burning building, others, like Jack Reichman, are seen running into one.
Reichman is a firefighter. He is also the newly elected chief of the Freehold Fire Department.
Reichman, 48, was sworn in as chief of the fire department at a Borough Council meeting on June 2. He was joined by his wife, Elaynea, and children, Michael, 19, and Stephanie, 17. Reichman will serve as chief for two years.
Reichman, who has been a member of the department's Engine No. 1 since 1990, worked his way up the fire department ladder, spending two years as second assistant chief and two years as first assistant chief.
He said being a firefighter is exciting and said he enjoys working with people and helping others. His volunteer position with the fire department provides him with ample opportunity to do both.
"It really is a good fit for me," Reichman said.
The new chief was born in Manhattan and moved to Freehold Borough with his family in 1969 at the age of 10. He graduated from the former Hudson Street School and from Freehold High School.
After graduating from high school, Reichman went to work with his father in the garment industry.
It was at that time that he decided to become a firefighter. He said many of his high school friends were members of the East Freehold Fire Company in Freehold Township, so the logical move was to sign up for training and become a member of that organization, which he did in 1980. He stayed with the East Freehold Fire Company until 1984, when he moved to Manasquan for a few years.
Reichman eventually returned to Freehold Borough and became a member of Engine No. 1 in the Freehold Fire Department, where he has been since 1990.
He left the garment industry and took a position with Quest Diagnostics, East Brunswick. He has been with the company for 13 years and currently works as a fleet route administrator.
Reichman said his goal as chief will be to keep the fire department running efficiently.
Attending meetings is a regular occurrence for members of the fire department, but being chief means attending more meetings, sometimes three or four a week, according to Reichman. He said that as chief he will be invited to attend all of the meetings held by various committees in the department.
The chief said he enjoys working with the young people who are enrolled in the fire department's junior firefighters program.
"This is a fantastic program, one of the best," Reichman said. "It gets harder and harder to get volunteers to sign up for the amount of schooling and training required (to become a firefighter). The junior firefighters program allows us to get people into the department when they are young and still have the time to make that commitment to the training, and it also allows us to turn out a great firefighter."
Reichman said he loves being a part the fire department and sharing the camaraderie among his fellow firefighters.
"We're all there for the same reason, to help people," he said. "You worry when you're in the midst of a fire, what happens if I go down? Will there be someone there for you? Everyone risks their lives, but we are all there to watch each other's back. We all depend on each other and we know we can count on one another. We're like a big family."