JACKSON – Residents of Jackson Fire District No. 2 are being urged to cast their ballots in a Fire Budget Referendum scheduled for Feb. 21, as district officials cite rising emergency call volume, continued population growth, and increasing operational demands.
According to district officials, emergency responses increased by 13 percent over the past year, with firefighters answering 1,575 calls in 2025. That increase comes amid a nationwide decline in volunteer firefighter participation and growing local development that continues to place additional strain on emergency services.
To address those challenges, Fire District No. 2 implemented several significant operational changes over the past year. On July 13, the district launched full-time, 24-hour career firefighter coverage — the first around-the-clock staffing model in the district’s history. In December, the district also expanded its EMS first responder program to operate 24 hours a day, improving response times for medical emergencies.
Officials said the district has also taken steps to modernize and streamline operations by integrating with Jackson Fire District No. 3 through the First Due software platform. The system is used to coordinate emergency responses, track equipment maintenance, manage reporting, and improve overall operational efficiency. District leaders said the integration represents an important step toward a long-anticipated consolidation between the two fire districts.
The proposed 2026 budget is designed to sustain 24/7 fire and EMS coverage while also supporting expanded fire prevention efforts. District officials said they are seeking to add a full-time fire inspector as inspection and enforcement responsibilities continue to grow.
The Fire Bureau conducted more than 4,000 fire safety inspections last year, in addition to handling origin-and-cause investigations, fire code enforcement, referrals to other agencies, burn injury investigations, plan reviews, and public education initiatives. Officials said inspection and enforcement activity is expected to continue trending upward.
“Our firefighters are answering more calls than ever, and our prevention workload continues to grow,” Fire Official and District Administrator Scott Rauch said in a statement. “This budget allows us to maintain the level of protection our residents expect and deserve, while planning responsibly for the future.”
Voters may cast ballots in person on Feb. 21, from 2 to 10 p.m. at Jackson Fire Station 56, located at 785 Miller Road.
Residents may also vote by mail. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 21 and received by Feb. 27.
Additional information is available by contacting Jackson Fire District No. 2 at 732-363-2595 or by email at srauch@jacksonfiredistrict2.org.
