Cranford Fire Department Hires First Female Firefighter

Cranford Grows Its Fire Department to Record 32 Members

The Cranford Township Committee voted on May 20, 2025, to appoint two new probationary firefighters and one full-time Emergency Medical Technician, bringing the Cranford Fire Department to its largest staffing level in its history.

The appointments reflect nearly a decade of rising emergency call volume in Cranford, NJ, and were covered by Union County Life when the township announced the hires.

A First in Department History

Chapin Taggart was appointed as one of the two new probationary firefighters, becoming the first woman to serve as a full-time firefighter in the Cranford Fire Department. Paul Richardson was named the second probationary firefighter. Kayla Rajcevic was appointed as a full-time EMT.

Taggart had served as a Communications Officer with the Cranford Police Department before her appointment. She also worked as a call firefighter since 2021 and as a part-time EMT since 2024.

Three Hires With Deep Local Roots

Richardson has been a call firefighter since 2017, previously worked as a full-time EMT, and brought additional experience as a volunteer firefighter in Kenilworth. Rajcevic had served as a part-time EMT with the department since 2023 and also volunteered with Fanwood EMS and the Scotch Plains Fire Department EMS Division. By filling the full-time EMT role vacated by Richardson's promotion, she steps into a position she had already supported on a part-time basis.

A Call Volume That Has Tripled in Two Decades

The two new firefighters bring total fire staffing to 32 members, the highest in the department's history.

Fire Chief Dan Czeh pointed to a dramatic increase in call volume as the key driver. When he joined the department in 2005, Cranford handled between 1,000 and 1,200 emergency calls per year. In 2023, that number reached 3,167. In 2024, it climbed to 3,333. Chief Czeh attributed the growth to residential development and increased service needs across the township.

"This is historic on two fronts," Chief Czeh said. "The additional staffing gives us the ability to operate safer, and will give our existing employees some relief. The other historic front is hiring our first full-time female firefighter."

Township Leadership Weighs In

Commissioner Kathleen Miller Prunty, who serves as Cranford's Public Safety Commissioner, said all three appointees passed rigorous testing to earn their appointments.

"Firefighter Taggart along with Firefighter Richardson and EMT Rajcevic worked incredibly hard and passed rigorous testing to reach the level we expect of our professionals," Commissioner Miller Prunty said.

With staffing now at a record level, the department is positioned to meet the continued growth in service demand that Chief Czeh and township leadership expect to continue.

Stay informed about Cranford news and announcements on Union County Life.

FAQ Section

Who is the first female firefighter in Cranford history?
Chapin Taggart was appointed as a probationary firefighter by the Cranford Township Committee on May 20, 2025, becoming the first woman to hold that role in the department's history.

How many firefighters does the Cranford Fire Department now have?
The department now has 32 members, the most in its history, following the appointments of Taggart and Richardson.

Why did Cranford hire additional firefighters?
Emergency call volume has more than tripled since Chief Dan Czeh joined in 2005. The department responded to 3,333 calls in 2024, up from between 1,000 and 1,200 per year when he started, driven by development and increased community service demands.

What qualifications did the new hires bring?
Taggart had worked as a Cranford police communications officer, a call firefighter since 2021, and a part-time EMT since 2024. Richardson had been a call firefighter since 2017 and a full-time EMT, with additional volunteer experience in Kenilworth. Rajcevic had served part-time with the department since 2023 and volunteered with Fanwood EMS and the Scotch Plains Fire Department EMS Division.