Millville, NJ — January 11 — Starting on January 11, all four fire departments in Maurice River Township will respond to fire-related incidents in the township at the same time. The goal of the shift, which will take effect Monday through Friday, is to maintain a wholly volunteer fire service while enhancing response times.

Companies from Cumberland Fire-Rescue Station 23, Heislerville, Leesburg, and Port Elizabeth will respond as a task force under the new paradigm. The local station number associated with the incident will be used to identify dispatches. According to fire officials, the strategy minimizes delays by guaranteeing that sufficient personnel and equipment promptly respond to initial alerts. The goal of the coordinated response is to promote the volunteer fire departments' long-term viability while offering uniform fire protection throughout the township.