The Fair Lawn Fire Department is a volunteer organization that consists of four stations founded in 1911, 1912, 1924 and 1930. Company No. 1 at 12-34 George Street is the "Central Station." Members tend to fires and other emergency and rescue calls around the clock with an average 3-minute response time. The fire department's annual community events include a station open house, 4th of July Fireworks and the Memorial Day Parade.
All volunteers must first learn standard operating procedures, take a course at the Bergen County Fire Academy and attend weekly drills on Tuesday evenings. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and a junior firefighter program is open to those between 16 and 18. The borough rewards volunteers with a discount card for local shops, access to the First Responders Weight Room in the Fair Lawn Community Center, special parking permits, pool passes and a clothing allowance.
Fair Lawn also has a Fire Prevention Bureau that conducts fire safety inspections at about 4,500 locations per year. The borough's fire marshal is Jay Bender.
The Recycling Center is open for disposal of of all recyclables, including aluminum, glass, plastic, aseptic packaging, corrugated/cardboard, books, junk mail/magazines and newspaper. This facility also accepts tree/shrub debris. Paint collection days for Middlesex County residents are the first Saturday of each month. Metal items are collected by appointment only by calling 732-390-6984 to schedule or the resident may take metal to the Recycling Center.
East Brunswick Fire District No. 2 Independent Fire Company covers an estimated population of between 45,000 and 50,000 residents of a 24-square-mile area. Its territory includes residential developments, shopping centers, industrial parks, apartment complexes, condos, town houses and hotels.
The East Brunswick Independent Fire Company covers the northern half of the township. The company has locations on Dunhams Corner Road, Lawrence Brook and Willow Street.
The Freehold Borough Municipal Building is located on Main Street in the heart of Downtown Freehold. The structure houses the administration office, borough clerk's office and tax collector's office, among others. A bicentennial mural of Freehold's history adorns the wall behind the stairwell.
The Hillsdale Free Public Library offers a variety of resources and lending services to residents of Hillsdale. It is part of the BCCLS system, which circulates books and has a digital collection connecting 74 public libraries throughout New Jersey. The library's staff is active on social media and regularly updates the library's website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages with events, resources and information for library members and cardholders.
The Kinnelon Recreation Municipal Complex is located behind the Kinnelon Municipal Building on Kinnelon Road. The fields are used primarily for football and lacrosse. Dogs are not allowed on the fields. The fields are available for public use during athletic events.
The Fair Lawn Police Department consists of 60 officers, led by chief Erik Rose. Residents petitioned the borough council to establish a full-time paid police force in 1930, and the borough purchased its first police car in 1931. The police roster includes drug abuse resistance education officers, field training officers, Bergen County rapid deployment force members, and traffic accident investigators.
The department's state mission is to protect the lives, property, and rights of all people; to prevent crime; and to impartially enforce laws and ordinances such as parking and school zone regulations.
Police department offices are on the first floor of the borough's municipal building.
The East Freehold Fire Company was organized in 1967. The company was originally housed in a former schoolhouse, but that structure was replaced with the current firehouse, which is located in a residential section of Dutch Lane Road. The East Freehold Fire Company covers the east side of the township, from Route 524 to East Freehold Road. The company is made up entirely of volunteers.