Meet 1st Responder News N.J. Correspondent, Justin Mattes!
Photo by PROVIDEDJustin Mattes with 1st Responder News Managing Editor Lindsey Palmer at the 2019 Wildwood NJ Firemen's Convention.
"I'm Justin, I grew up in Woodcliff Lake and was always hopping on my scooter whenever the fire whistle went off; I did it close to 20 years. Days before I moved, the department had a going away dinner for me. At the end of the dinner, Chief Lucia presented me with a helmet and made me an honorary member. When I moved to Cape May in the summer of 2015, the fire department welcomed me with open arms. I treasure my relationship with both departments."
"I also ran a police scanner website (bergenscanner.com) for 15 years. During that time I formed relationships with fire departments from all over Bergen County. One of the most rewarding was my friendship with Teaneck Box 54 back in 2000. The president at that time had emailed me with some information and we quickly became friends. He invited me to visit them in Teaneck, and one thing led to another, and they made me an honorary member. I wrote a lot about them, including a poem that was read at their 50th anniversary dinner held in 2002."
"Becoming a correspondent with 1st Responder News has given me a way to contribute to the fire service, which I'm very thankful for."