Bridgewater Firefighter Is Following In His Grandfather's Footsteps

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Zachary Menendez of Bridgewater was among 38 new firefighters to graduate at Somerset County's first Fire Academy Graduation held on Friday since COVID arrived in 2020.

The 38 new firefighters are being added to 24 Central Jersey departments that protect the public during home fires, floods, and other life-threatening situations.

"It is no small thing to commit to enter a burning building, to carry dozens of pounds of gear on your back into unfamiliar spaces, to be ready to save someone else’s life at a moment’s notice," said Commissioner Deputy Director Doug Singleterry at the celebration. "You give us all the faith that our homes and loved ones are protected at all times, and that when disaster strikes there are highly skilled, highly trained, highly motivated neighbors ready to come give us the help – and hope — we need to recover."

Menendez will be joining the Green Knoll Fire Department as a volunteer.

Menendez is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Bob Skillman, who served 55 years as a firefighter including as chief of the Laurelton Fire Department.

"For all the guys who don’t know what they want to do or want to try something new, really get into volunteer firefighting. You might just find that this is something you want to spend your life doing," said Menendez.

Additional among those who graduated, includes father Frank Wendling, Jr. and his two sons Frank Wendling III and Max Wendling also graduated together.

They decided to join Montgomery Fire Company #1 after Montgomery firefighters rescued Frank III’s girlfriend Julia from her car after it was swept away in the raging waters of Hurricane Ida.

"After we heard that Julia had been saved, my two sons responded that they would be joining the fire department the next day," said Frank Jr. "They followed through, and after some serious soul searching, thinking I was too old, and talking to every fireman that I know, I also decided to give it a try."

Founded in 1991, the Fire Academy is part of Somerset County’s Emergency Services Training Academy in Hillsborough, NJ, as part of the Office of Emergency Management. The Academy is tasked with providing educational training and certification for fire, EMS, CERT, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, search and rescue, amateur radio testing, hazardous materials handling, and other public safety personnel in Somerset County and throughout the state.

"This is an exciting day. This is our first live graduation of the Somerset County Fire Academy since before COVID, so a nice round of applause for a little return to normal," said Somerset County Office of Emergency Management Director Lisa Werner, who oversees the Emergency Services Training Academy. "I am so proud to be here to be a part of these firefighters’ training, and to ensure that this academy is here to serve the people of Somerset County for many generations to come."

The Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy has dozens of classes for aspiring and experienced firefighters, EMTs, CERT members and other first responders schedule throughout the spring and summer of 2023. To learn more, click here, call 908-725-5070 or email trainingacademy@co.somerset.nj.us.