Public Records & OPRA Requests

As a public agency, Gloucester Township Fire District #4 is committed to transparency and accountability. In accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), most government records are available to the public upon request—unless specifically exempt by law.

What is OPRA?

The Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) gives the public broad access to government records maintained by public agencies in New Jersey. OPRA was designed to ensure that government remains open and accessible, while balancing the privacy and security of individuals.

How to Request a Public Record

To request public records from Gloucester Township Fire District #4, you must complete and submit an official OPRA Request Form. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, email, or fax.

Questions

If you’re unsure whether a record is available or need help with a request, please contact our Custodian of Records at wfini@gtfd4.org.

OPRA Request Form

Submit via:

📬 Mail: 14 W. Central Avenue, Blackwood, NJ 08012
📧 Email: wfini@gtfd4.org
📠 Fax: (856) 227-2494
🏢 In Person: During business hours

What to Expect

Once your request is received, the District will respond within seven (7) business days, in accordance with state law. If your request is unclear or overly broad, we may contact you to clarify or narrow your request. Some records may be subject to redaction or denial under OPRA exemptions.

📄 Fees & Delivery

🧾 Copy Fees:

Letter-size pages: $0.05 per page
Legal-size pages: $0.07 per page
Other materials (CDs, DVDs, etc.): Actual cost of material

📦 Delivery Charges:

Delivery and postage fees may apply depending on the selected delivery method.

⚙️ Special Service Charges:

Some requests may involve a special service charge, based on the time and effort required to locate, retrieve, or prepare records. You will be notified in advance if a service charge applies.

💳 Payment Notice:

Prepayment may be required for large or complex requests. You will be advised before any charges are incurred.

🔒 Exemptions from Disclosure

While most records maintained by Gloucester Township Fire District #4 are available to the public, certain documents are exempt from disclosure under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

Common exemptions include:

• Emergency and security procedures
• Personal identifying information (e.g., Social Security numbers, unlisted phone numbers)
• Medical and personnel records
• Criminal investigation files
• Attorney-client privileged communications
• Trade secrets and proprietary business information
• Ongoing litigation or draft documents
• Volunteer applications and background checks

These exemptions help protect sensitive information while balancing the public’s right to access government records.