Father and Son Serve Others Together at Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Co.

SHIP BOTTOM, NJ– The importance of helping others was instilled in Dante D’Antonio at a young age. His father, Mike D’Antonio, served in the Army for 21 years and spent six years in the auxiliary police force in Upper Darby, Pa. Dante’s an adult now, and he and his dad serve side-by-side at Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company.

“Volunteering is bigger than oneself and there is a great amount of satisfaction that comes from it,” said Dante, a firefighter. “I grew up in an environment that taught me to respect the things that we have in this life and the people that defend them. It is nice to be able to relax with family and friends at the end of the day, but there has to be people around that are willing to help others, and if there isn’t, then no one gets to enjoy that time.”

Mike D’Antonio joined Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company in 2012. He felt a strong connection to the island where he lived part-time and wanted to lend a helping hand here. Mike worked his way up the ranks to Fire Police Captain, a role he leveraged to help recruit his son to the fire
police team in 2019.

Shortly after joining the fire police, Dante became a firefighter, earning his Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. Still wanting to do more, he became an EMT, and recently passed the national exam.

Being able to share the volunteer experience at Ship Bottom with his father has been invaluable, Dante said. “We both get to share something that not everyone gets to experience, and we can grow and become better first responders together.”

Dante, who is 28 and a full-time Ship Bottom resident, and Mike, 64, who is here every weekend, encourage those looking to make a difference or meet new people to
consider volunteering with Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company.

“Ship Bottom has been here since 1922, and if there is anyone thinking about joining, please contact us and give it a try. The fire company will pay for the training, uniform and all of your education,” said Mike.

How to Volunteer with Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company

No experience is required to become a Ship Bottom volunteer. The following volunteer
opportunities are available for seasonal or all-year residents:

Firefighter– Fight fires and respond to emergencies. You must be at least 18 years old.

Water Rescue Volunteer– Respond to water rescue emergencies in Ship Bottom and Brant Beach, and provide mutual aid to Surf City.

Junior Firefighter–Assist on fire calls, run the hose, and help with ladders. Must be between the ages of 14 and 17. At 18, juniors can become firefighters.

Fire Police–Direct traffic and crowd control at the scene of an emergency.

Administrative Volunteer– Help with fundraising, administrative tasks, event support, truck maintenance, and more.

For more information or to fill out an inquiry form, visit www.ShipBottomFirefighters.org