Squad 88: A Partnership That Works

The Fire Truck with Dual Citizenship

What’s Squad 88, and Why Does It Matter?

Let’s be honest—fire protection in Gloucester Township is complicated. We have six individual fire districts, all serving the same town, each with its own leadership, tax rate, and operating structure. It’s like trying to run one house with six thermostats—and everyone’s arguing over the temperature.

Years ago, Districts 2 and 4 recognized that this fragmented model wasn’t sustainable. Neither district had enough staffing to safely provide 24/7 fire coverage on its own. So instead of continuing to stretch thin, we did something that’s surprisingly rare in local government: we teamed up.

That collaboration became Squad 88—a jointly staffed squad company built through a shared services agreement between our two districts. We combined personnel, built a shared schedule, and even bought a truck together. It’s a real success story in cooperation, proving that when we pool resources, everyone wins.

Is it perfect? No. There are quirks, workarounds, and the occasional logistical headache. But it works—and we keep working to make it better.

We also weren’t the first to try it. Districts 5 and 6 launched a similar partnership years earlier. It had its own successes and growing pains, and while that particular alliance eventually ended, we met with their leadership, listened, and learned from both what worked and what didn’t. Their experience shaped how we built Squad 88 and continues to inform how we move forward.

Our hope is to maintain and strengthen this partnership through clear communication and shared purpose. And while we still believe the future lies in a fully unified fire service—one district, one leadership structure—we also know we’re inching toward that vision at a glacial pace, as each district slowly begins to accept a simple truth:

We can’t keep going it alone.

Squad 88 is a step in the right direction—a reminder that we all serve the same community, and we’re stronger when we serve it together.