Rich Tompkins joined the Seaside Heights Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 1980. Throughout his 46 years serving within the organization, he has worn many hats and held leadership roles such as President and Fire Chief. He currently serves as the Fire Commissioner and works closely with the fire chief to assess operational needs and funding.

“I’m basically the go-between between the council and the fire department,” he said. “So, I can relate back to the town council what position and what equipment we need.”

After all this time, he stands firm on his point that volunteering with the fire department has been nothing short of amazing.

“It’s been the greatest experience of my life. I could never ask for anything greater,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it tremendously throughout the years.”

A chance encounter with another firefighter led to his filling out an application to volunteer.

“One of the members came to me and said, ‘Hey, you’re a young guy, you know, in good shape. Why don’t you come join the fire department?’” he said.

If it weren’t for this interaction, Tompkins claims he might never have become a firefighter. He has served the fire department in a multitude of ways since being 18 years old and believes his involvement with the fire department played a vital role in his development as a leader.

“I think if not for the fire department, my activities in there, I probably wouldn’t be a councilman today,” he said.

A Formative Experience

According to Tompkins, he isn’t the only one who set out on a new path thanks to his experience as a volunteer firefighter.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come into the fire department that really didn’t have focus in their life, and the fire company gave them focus and they moved forward and did very well for themselves,” he said.

Tompkins attributes this not only to the structure that volunteering at the fire department provides, but also the rewarding nature of being involved with the organization.

“You just get a very positive feeling about yourself,” he said.

His favorite part of all is the relationships built amongst the fellow volunteers.

“It’s just the camaraderie more than anything, helping the community,” he said. “You get to meet a great bunch of people. It’s just very rewarding.”

After such a long time of involvement, Tompkins never tires of serving the fire department.

“To be honest with you, it’s just in your blood,” he said. It’s something that you just love to do.”

Interested in becoming a volunteer? There’s a role for you: firefighter, ocean rescue, fire police and more. Visit joinseasideheights.org to get started today. All gear and training are free.