It was only natural that Matthew Huelbig would aspire to become a firefighter.
After all, his grandfather, Martin Huelbig, was a Weehawken fireman who was killed in 1957 while fighting a fire on railroad tracks along the Weehawken waterfront.
“He was apparently on top of a rail car fighting the fire when the car collapsed,” Matthew Huelbig said.
And his father, Gerald, was a Weehawken Fire Chief when he retired from the department a little over a decade ago.
Not to mention, Matthew’s younger brother, Tom, became a member of the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue a little more than three years ago.
The elder Huelbig always wanted to fall next in the family lineage, but didn’t have the opportunity.
“I grew up thinking I would always become a firefighter,” Matt Huelbig said. “Some of my earliest memories were in the firehouse, sitting on the rig, being with my father. It was just natural that I would want to join them.”
Huelbig took his first fireman’s test in Bayonne 14 years ago and didn’t get selected.
“I almost did,” he laughed.
A long wait
Six years ago, he took the NHRFR test and waited to see if he would make it. And he waited. And waited.
“I really had reached the end of my rope,” said Huelbig, now 32. “I am not getting any younger. I was reaching the limits on my patience. I figured that this was about my last chance.”
Huelbig concentrated on running his own business, a tree service company called “All-American Tree Experts,” that he started with his brother in Sussex County six years ago.
“I thought it was just about over,” said Huelbig, who lived in Weehawken as a youngster, then moved to Newton in Sussex County and then returned to Weehawken seven years ago. “I didn’t think I was going to get a shot.”
However, two months ago, Huelbig received a call from one of his father’s friends that still was on the NHRFR.
“He told me that my name came up and that I was going to be hired,” Huelbig said. “I couldn’t believe it. I think everyone in my family was just overtaken with the news.”
Huelbig was about to become a third generation firefighter, falling right in line with the rest of his family.
He was sworn in as a provisional member of the NHRFR last week at a ceremony that was not only attended by his parents and his brother, but also his grandmother, Edith, who lost her husband on that tragic night 50 years ago.
Huelbig has his long-time dream come true when he was hired along with six others to become the latest recruits for the NHRFR.
In-house training
The seven new recruits received their provisional badges at a ceremony at the NHRFR headquarters in West New York last Friday and began in-house training on Monday, before getting shipped off to the Bergen County Fire Academy for 22 weeks beginning next week.
The other new recruits are Bill Sharp and Alain Perez of North Bergen, Marc Lombardo and Carlos Perez (no relation to Alain) of West New York and Vin Caruso and Jason Sibari of Union City.
All seven of the new recruits are all over 30 years old, which is a rarity when it comes to new firefighter hiring.
They begin with a provisional annual salary of $28,000 annual salary and get a raise to $32,000 upon completing their stint in the fire academy.
Huelbig said that he felt a great sense of joy when he took the oath last week.
“I can’t even begin to describe the feeling,” Huelbig said. “It’s overwhelming. I can’t even tell you the sight of my father, seeing me up there. He was so proud. I’m just looking forward to getting started, having the chance to work with my brother, with these other great guys. I was just hoping that either my brother or I would get on the fire department, so we could keep the family tradition going. I’m glad we’re both on. It’s great.”
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, who serves as the chairman of the board for the NHRFR, expressed his pride in Huelbig’s hiring.
“It’s a third generation and we always like to see that,” Turner said. “His grandfather was a hero firefighter who died in the line of duty. Matt has been able to follow in his grandfather and father’s footsteps. What’s nice about it is that the family stayed in Weehawken. The Huelbigs have been a part of Weehawken for a very long time. I’m very happy he’s now a member of the regional.”
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at either OGSMAR@aol.com or jhague@hudsonreporter.com