The following press release is from the South Essex Fire Dept.:
ESSEX COUNTY, N.J., August 28, 2026: The South Essex Regional Fire Department, which serves the Townships of South Orange and Maplewood, announced today that the Chief of the Department Joseph Alvarez will retire effective December 1, 2026, concluding a 40-year career in the fire service.
Alvarez was named Chief of the Maplewood Fire Department in December 2021 and became Chief of the South Essex Regional Fire Department when it began operations on July 1, 2022.
“Creating the South Essex Regional Fire Department (SEFD) required much more than merging two departments on paper. We were bringing together two proud organizations, two municipalities, two different histories, and two ways of doing things to build a single department and culture capable of serving both communities,” said South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum, Chair of the SEFD Management Committee. “Chief Alvarez was instrumental in executing that transition. His experience, credibility, and steady leadership helped us navigate a difficult undertaking that now serves as a model for municipal consolidation of services. I can’t thank Joe enough for everything he brought to this process and to our department. He’s going to be sorely missed, and we wish him all the happiness in the world in his next chapter.”
RELATED: EXPLAINER: A History of Maplewood & South Orange’s Efforts to Merge Fire Departments
Alvarez began his career as a volunteer with the Waldwick Ambulance Corps in 1986 and the Waldwick Fire Department in 1988, eventually rising to Chief of Department. He later served as Chief of the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department before joining the Maplewood Fire Department as a Firefighter/EMT in 1998 and advancing through the ranks to Chief.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see Chief Alvarez’s leadership firsthand over many years in Maplewood, and I’ve always had tremendous respect for his knowledge of the fire service and his commitment to the people he serves,” said Maplewood Mayor Victor De Luca, Vice Chair of the SEFD Management Committee. “He brought that experience to South Essex and helped establish best practices for a larger department, with more firefighters on each tour, stronger response capabilities, and increased mutual aid available to assist our surrounding communities. He leaves behind a stronger department serving both towns and a solid foundation to continue building upon.”
Alvarez’s contributions to the fire service extend well beyond SEFD. He has served as an instructor at the Bergen County Fire Academy since 1996, taught nationally and internationally through Fire Engineering, and written for Fire Engineering, including contributing the Search chapter of the Firefighter’s Handbook. He also serves as a Rescue Squad Officer with New Jersey Task Force 1 and as the Bergen County Fire Coordinator.
“Chief Alvarez has always believed that one of the most important responsibilities of a Chief is developing the firefighters who will come after him,” said Adam D. Loehner, Chief Executive Officer of SEFD. “You see that in his lifelong commitment to continuing education and training, but also in how hands-on he is with our newest recruits and his willingness to mentor firefighters at every stage of their careers. Joe is also the person who will pick up the phone at any hour and go out of his way to help someone who needs it. That commitment to teaching, mentoring, and taking care of people has made a lasting impact on this department and on generations of firefighters throughout New Jersey.”
Public service is also a family tradition. Alvarez’s son Joseph is a Police Officer with the Mahwah Police Department; his son Patrick is a South Essex firefighter and member of New Jersey Task Force 1; and his daughter Paige is a Fire Inspector with Paramus Fire Prevention.
“Serving the communities of Maplewood and South Orange has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Alvarez said. “I am deeply grateful to the elected officials of both communities for placing their trust in me and giving me the opportunity to lead this department through such an important chapter in its history. Most of all, I am grateful to the men and women of the South Essex Fire Department. I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the finest professionals in the fire service, and I could not be prouder of the dedication, professionalism, and commitment they bring to this job every single day. I may be retiring as Chief, but I will never stop caring about this department, the people who serve here, or the communities we protect. If SEFD or any of its members ever need me, I will always be one phone call away.”
The South Essex Fire Department Management Committee will immediately begin the process of selecting the department’s next Chief of Department and will share additional information as that process moves forward.
